SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Abu Hamza

William Cash: To ask the Solicitor-General on what date the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) first decided not to endorse the proposed prosecution of Abu Hamza; whether the CPS consulted the (a) Director of Public Prosecutions and (b) Attorney-General in relation to the case; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: In November 1999 the CPS having consulted Treasury Counsel decided that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Abu Hamza for offences of kidnap and murder relating to an incident in the Yemen. In 2003 following a submission of further material from the police the CPS again decided that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Abu Hamza for those offences. The CPS did not consult the Attorney-General about this matter.
	In January 2003 police seized tapes connected with Abu Hamza, in April 2003 further tapes were seized. In November 2003 the police submitted a report concerning the tapes to the CPS. CPS advised that further police enquires should be made. In March 2004 the police submitted a further report to the CPS. In May 2004 the police seized further tapes and submitted them to the CPS.
	In October 2004 the CPS decided, having taken advice from Treasury Counsel, that there was sufficient evidence to prosecute Abu Hamza for soliciting to murder, incitement to racial hatred and possessing a document containing information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism. The evidence came from the tapes seized in May 2004 and one tape from those seized in January 2003. On this occasion the Attorney-General was consulted, agreed with the decision to prosecute and gave his consent to the prosecution of the incitement to racial hatred offence in October 2004.

Audible Fire Alarms

Bob Spink: To ask the Solicitor-General what proportion of the premises occupied by the Law Officers is fitted with audible fire alarms.

Mike O'Brien: All the offices occupied by the Law Officers' Departments 1 are fitted with audible fire alarms in compliance with current fire safety legislation.
	1 Crown Prosecution Service, HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Service, Serious Fraud Office, Treasury Solicitor's Department and Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers.

Criminal Justice Act

David Amess: To ask the Solicitor-General what changes were made under the Criminal Justice Act 2003 to the Crown Prosecution Service's power to instigate prosecutions.

Mike O'Brien: The changes made by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 empower a crown prosecutor, acting under guidance issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions, to determine whether, and if so what, criminal charges should be preferred against alleged offenders who have been arrested or reported for an offence by the police.
	The Act considerably enhances the ability of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to influence the efficient progress of casework by ensuring that the right offender is charged with the most appropriate offence.
	Previously, the CPS's powers were limited to reviewing and amending police determined charges or in limited circumstances instigating proceedings where the importance or difficulty of the case made it appropriate to do so.

Crown Prosecution Service

Peter Bone: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will take steps to improve liaison between the Crown Prosecution Service and witnesses in relation to bringing cases to court.

Mike O'Brien: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), in partnership with the police, has established 165 witness care units across England and Wales. The units provide a single point of contact for victims and witnesses from point of charge until the conclusion of the case. Dedicated witness care officers ensure that the needs of individual victims and witnesses are identified and met so that they have all the support and information they need to enable them to attend court and to give their best evidence.
	As far as vulnerable and intimidated witnesses are concerned, there is the possibility of the witness meeting the prosecution team to discuss what special measures in court may be appropriate for them at trial. Research has shown that there has not been a high take-up of these meetings and the CPS will use this to encourage areas to hold them where appropriate.
	In addition the CPS is currently piloting pre-trial interviews with witnesses in four CPS areas. The purpose of the interview is to assess the reliability of the witness's evidence, assist the prosecutor in understanding complex evidence, and to explain the criminal process and procedures to witnesses.

Departmental Expenditure

Mark Francois: To ask the Solicitor-General how much has been spent in each year since 1997 by the Law Officers' Department on salaries paid to civil servants.

Mike O'Brien: The salaries paid by the Law Officers' Departments 1 to civil servants between 1997–98 and 2004–05 together with the related percentage of total budget are shown in the following table.
	1 The Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office was set up on 18 April 2005.
	
		
			 Financial year Crown Prosecution Service Serious Fraud Office Treasury Solicitor's Department(1) 
			  TSol LSLO HMCPSI  
			  £ million Percentage £ million Percentage £ million £ million £ million Percentage(2) 
		
		
			 1997–98 130.95 41 4.17 27 (3)— (3)— — — 
			 1998–99 132.80 40 3.92 24 12.05 1.08 — 19 
			 1999–2000 138.48 42 4.26 27 13.29 1.09 — 27 
			 2000–01 135.50 37 4.72 24 14.73 1.19 — 22 
			 2001–02 158.79 35 6.20 27 16.78 1.32 1.69 31 
			 2002–03 181.83 37 6.89 26 19.60 1.50 1.81 30 
			 2003–04 205.17 37 7.60 27 23.05 1.54 1.87 32 
			 2004–05 224.52 37 8.89 26 24.41 2.03 1.93 35 
		
	
	(1) Includes figures for the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers and for HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate from its establishment on 1 October 2000 and separately accounted for from 1 April 2001.
	(2) Percentage of total Treasury Solicitor's Department salaries against total budget.
	(3) Figures no longer available.

Departmental Vehicles

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Solicitor-General how many cars are (a) owned and (b) leased by his Department; what models the cars are; what type of petrol each model requires; and what the fuel efficiency is of each model.

Mike O'Brien: None of the Law Officers' Departments owns any cars.
	The Crown Prosecution Service leases 18 vehicles from LoydsTSB Autolease whose fleet contains the vehicle models/type petrol consumption shown in the following chart. The fuel efficiency figures for these vehicles are not known.
	
		
			 Car model Type of petrol 
		
		
			 Citroen Berlingo Van 1.4i 600 LX Liquefied petroleum gas 
			 Ford Transit 260 SWB low-roof 2.3L Liquefied petroleum gas 
			 Ford Transit 280 SWB low-roof 2.3L Liquefied petroleum gas 
			 Ford Transit 280 SWB low-roof 2.3L Liquefied petroleum gas 
			 Ford Transit Connect Van 200 SWB 1.8L D/ TEC L Liquefied petroleum gas 
			 Ford Transit Connect Van 210 LWB 1.8L Liquefied petroleum gas 
			 Ford Galaxy 5 door 7ST 2.3i LX Liquefied petroleum gas 
			 Vauxhall Astravan 1.6 Twinport LS Liquefied petroleum gas 
			 Vauxhall Astravan 1.6 Twinport Envoy Liquefied petroleum gas 
			 Vauxhall Astravan 1.6i LS Liquefied petroleum gas 
			 Vauxhall Combo Van 1700 1.6 Liquefied petroleum gas 
			 Vauxhall Combo Van 1700 1.6 Liquefied petroleum gas 
			 Vauxhall Combo Van 1700 1.6 Liquefied petroleum gas 
			 Vauxhall Combo Van 1700 1.6 Liquefied petroleum gas 
			 Vauxhall Zafira 1.6i 16v Life Liquefied petroleum gas 
			 Vauxhall Vectra 2.2 Dti Estate Diesel 
		
	
	HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office, Serious Fraud Office, Treasury Solicitor's Department and Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers do not lease any cars.
	For vehicles provided to Government Departments by the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA), my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Transport has asked the chief executive of the GCDA to write to the hon. member with the information requested.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Solicitor-General whether the Attorney-General was instructed by the Prime Minister that he should not give advice in relation to the war in Iraq until March 2003.

Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Gentleman to paragraphs 366–87 of the Report of the Butler Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Prosecutions (Parents)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Solicitor-General 
	(1)  how many cases of parents prosecuted for killing their children have been reviewed following the Sally Clark judgment; and how many of these cases have been re-investigated;
	(2)  what procedures were followed in reviewing the cases of parents convicted of killing their own children;
	(3)  how many pathologists were involved in the review of cases of parents convicted of killing their own children following the Sally Clark judgment.

Mike O'Brien: On 29 January 2003 the Court of Appeal overturned Sally Clark's conviction for murdering her two sons. On 19 January 2004 the Court of Appeal issued its judgment allowing the appeal of Angela Cannings against her convictions for murdering two of her children. On the same day the Attorney-General announced he had established a review of all convictions in the previous 10 years (1994—2004), of a parent, foster parent or carer convicted of the unlawful killing of a baby and/or infant under the age of two. A small number of cases which did not fall strictly within the parameters of the review were also included at the request of defendants or their solicitors.
	At the same time, January 2004, the Attorney-General asked the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to review current cases involving an unexplained infant death, which were still to come to trial.
	A Central Review Team (CRT) of experienced legal practitioners was set up within the CPS, answerable only to the Attorney. The CRT purely reviewed case files on legal merits in the light of the Court of Appeal ruling in Cannings. No pathologist was involved in this legal review work.
	A total of 297 cases were reviewed by the CRT. The papers reviewed included evidence served on the prosecution by the defence, who were in the best position to know about the circumstances of their clients' convictions. None of the cases were reinvestigated (by the police) in the sense that the original investigation was reopened but all the available papers were thoroughly reviewed. A selection was also sent to independent counsel for review.
	The team's work was supervised by an Inter-Departmental Group (IDG). This group considered 34 cases identified by the CRT for possible referral to the defendant. All but six of those cases were accepted for such referral. After careful consideration, the Attorney-General, IDG and counsel decided that the remaining six cases did not give such cause for concern that they needed to be referred to the defendant. Again, no pathologist was involved in this work but the Attorney-General was assisted by an expert in child health and paediatrics.
	On 21 December 2004, the Attorney-General published the results of the review of the Infant Death Cases, and together with the then Solicitor-General, made oral statements before Parliament on that day. The report was also placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	As a result of the review a number of cases were referred to the Court of Appeal. It was at this stage that these cases were subject to the re- examination of evidence by medical professionals, including pathologists.
	In addition, the review of current cases resulted in three prosecutions being stopped without going to trial. This was set out in the original review.
	At the time of publication of the original review in December 2004, the Attorney-General explained that he had deferred final consideration of 89 further cases of so-called Shaken Baby Syndrome. An addendum to the report, dealing with those cases, will be published shortly.
	Neither stage of the review has prevented any person from referring their case to the Court of Appeal or Criminal Cases Review Commission if they wish to do so.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Expenditure

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has allocated to (a) total expenditure, (b) grant in aid to private sector partners, (c) capital spending and (d) revenue spending in each year between 2006–07 to 2014–15; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID allocates funds within spending review limits, agreed with Her Majesty's Treasury (HMT). The current spending review (SR04) runs to 2007–08.
	Annex 1, table 1 of DFID's 2005 Departmental Report (DR) summarises all Government spending that falls within DFID's responsibility. Tables 2 and 3 of the DR provide a detailed breakdown of the resource and capital spending totals. Table 4 outlines our bilateral aid expenditure, which includes all forms of direct assistance; expenditure through multilateral institutions; DFID expenditure in support of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative and the multilateral debt relief expenditure plans.
	Capital expenditure is shown net in the DR (i.e. expenditure minus receipts). Expected gross expenditure in both 2006–07 and 2007–08 is about £46.5 million.
	DFID does not hold specific details of grants in aid to private partners centrally and it is not possible to provide a disaggregation without incurring disproportionate cost.
	DFID is currently undertaking a resource allocation round, which is the mechanism by which DFID distributes its budget internally. Revisions to the allocations for 2006–07 and 2007–08 have yet to be agreed.

Departmental Offices

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the locations in which his Department has had offices in each of the last five years.

Gareth Thomas: In the UK, staff have been based in the following locations in the last five years:
	94 Victoria street, London (up to November 2001)
	1 Palace street, London (since November 2001)
	20 Victoria street, London
	Glen House, Stag Place London (up to October 2002)
	Abercrombie House, East Kilbride.
	Over the last five years, DFID have had staff based in the countries in the following list.. In some cases, for part or all of the period in question the DFID staff formed part of the British embassy/high commission, or other multilateral organisation, rather than a separate office.
	
		
			 Country Office Location 
		
		
			 Angola Luanda 
			 Botswana (closed) Gaberone 
			 Burundi Bujumbura 
			 Cameroon (closed 2004) Yaounde 
			 Congo, Dem Rep Kinshasa 
			 Egypt (closed 2005) Cairo 
			 Ethiopia Addis Ababa 
			 Gambia Banjul 
			 Ghana Accra 
			 Kenya Nairobi 
			 Lesotho Maseru 
			 Malawi Lilongwe 
			 Mozambique Maputo 
			 Namibia (closed) Windhoek 
			  Abuja 
			  Ekiti 
			  Jigawa 
			  Enugu 
			 Nigeria Makurdi 
			 Rwanda Kigali 
			 Sierra Leone Freetown 
			  Cape Town (closed) 
			 South Africa Pretoria 
			 Sudan Khartoum 
			 Swaziland (closed) Mbabane 
			 Tanzania Dar Es Salem 
			 Uganda Kampala 
			 Zambia Lusaka 
			 Zimbabwe Harare 
			 Afghanistan Kabul 
			 Burma Rangoon 
			 Bangladesh Dhaka 
			 Cambodia Phnom Penn 
			 China Beijing 
			 Fiji (closed) Suva 
			  Delhi 
			  Kolkata 
			  Orissa 
			  Hyderabad 
			 India Bhopal 
			 Indonesia Jakarta 
			 Jordan Amman 
			 Nepal Kathmandu 
			 Palestine Jerusalem 
			 Pakistan Islamabad 
			 Sri Lanka Columbo 
			 Thailand Bangkok 
			 Vietnam Hanoi 
			 Yemen Sanaa 
			 Barbados Bridgetown 
			 Belize (closed) Belmopan 
			 Bolivia La Paz 
			 Brazil Brasilia 
			 Guyana Georgetown 
			 Honduras (closed 2005) Tegucigalpa 
			 Jamaica Kingston 
			 Montserrat  
			 Nicaragua Managua 
			 Peru (closed 2005) Lima 
			 Albania Tirana 
			 Armenia Yerevan 
			 Azerbaijan (closed 2003) Baku 
			 Belarus (closed 2002) Minsk 
			  Banja Luka 
			 Bosnia Sarajevo 
			 Bulgaria (closed 2005) Sofia 
			 Czech Republic (closed 2003) Prague 
			 Croatia (closed 2005) Croatia 
			 Estonia (closed 2003) Estonia 
			 France Paris 
			 Georgia Tiblisi 
			 Hungary (closed 2003) Budapest 
			 Italy Rome 
			 Kazakstan (closed 2005) Almaty 
			 Kosovo Kosovo 
			 Kyrgyzstan Bishkek 
			 Latvia (closed 2003) Riga 
			 Lithuania (closed 2003) Vilnius 
			 Macedonia (closed 2005) Macedonia 
			 Moldova Chisinau 
			 Poland (closed 2003) Warsaw 
			 Romania (closed 2005) Bucharest 
			 Russia Moscow 
			  St. Petersburg 
			 Serbia and Montenegro Belgrade 
			 Slovakia (closed 2003) Bratislava 
			 Slovenia (closed 2003) Ljubijana 
			 Tajikistan Dushanbe 
			 Turkmenistan (closed 2002) Ashgabat 
			 Ukraine Kiev 
			 Uzbekistan (closed 2005) Tashkent 
			 Switzerland (UN) Geneva 
			 Austria (UN) Vienna 
			 USA (IMF) Washington 
			 USA (UN) New York 
			 Belguim (EU) Brussels 
			 Iraq Baghdad (opened 2003) 
			  Basra (opened 2003)

Madagascar (British Embassy)

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the impact of the closure of the British embassy in Madagascar on UK aid and development initiatives in (a) Madagascar and (b) South East Africa.

Hilary Benn: I refer the hon. Member to the response given on 30 January 2006, Official Report, column 13W. We have made no assessment of the impact of the closure of the embassy, as DFID does not have a bilateral development programme with Madagascar. The closure is unlikely to have any effect on South East Africa.

Middle East

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the Government have required the Palestinian Authority to meet certain criteria in order to ensure continued financial aid; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The statement by the European Union, United States, United Nations and Russia (the Quartet) on 30 January concluded that future assistance to any new Palestinian government would be reviewed by donors against that government's commitment to principles of non-violence, recognition of Israel and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the Roadmap. The UK government fully supports this approach.
	Pending the formation of a new Palestinian government, a caretaker administration is in place. The Quartet has called for measures to facilitate the work of this caretaker administration to stabilise public finances. DFID is in close contact with the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and other donors about how we can help. For the time being DFID's programmes of advice to key Palestinian institutions and assistance to refugees are continuing.

Pakistan

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total amount of aid given to (a) the Pakistan Government and (b) aid agencies has been following the earthquake of 8 October 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: DFID has pledged £58 million for emergency humanitarian relief and £70 million for longer term reconstruction. Of this nearly £53 million has been committed so far, including £43.3 million to aid agencies. The remainder has been in support of interventions undertaken by NATO, MOD and of direct action by DFID. We have not disbursed any money to the Government of Pakistan so far.

Palestinian Authority

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the Government gave in aid to the Palestinian Authority in each of the last five years.

Hilary Benn: DFID's support to the Palestinian Authority (PA) over the last five years has been as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2001–02 14.4 
			 2002–03 15 
			 2003–04 16.9 
			 2004–05 15.8 
			 2005–06 15 
		
	
	This support has included technical assistance and financial aid, including budgetary support. These figures are in addition to Palestinian projects implemented outside the PA, including contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for refugees.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agricultural Support

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the total amount to be paid to farmers under the Single Farm Payment in England in 2005–06.

Jim Knight: The total amount of money that is available for payments to farmers in England under the single payment scheme is £1.63 billion. The amount each farmer will receive depends on the number and value of the entitlements they are allocated, and whether they activate these entitlements. In addition all payments are subject to modulation.

Agricultural Support

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the first single farm payments to be made.

Jim Knight: As I stated on 31 January 2006, full payments under the Single Payment Scheme will start at the end of February 2006, with the bulk complete in March 2006.
	I expect all payments will be made well within the payment window set by EU legislation which runs until 30 June 2006.

Avian Influenza

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what factors she took into account when deciding not to authorise the use of vaccines against avian influenza.

Ben Bradshaw: The use of avian influenza vaccines is prohibited by European Union (EU) legislation except in emergency or high risk situations. They would also have to be specifically authorised by the Chief Veterinary Officer.
	The vaccines currently available in the EU are able to reduce mortality but it is likely that some vaccinated birds would still be capable of transmitting the avian influenza virus if they become infected. We are continuing to work closely with vaccine manufacturers to assess information on other possible vaccines.

Beacon Towns Initiative

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the status of the Beacon Towns initiative.

Jim Knight: The Beacon Towns programme was part of the Market Towns initiative announced in the Rural White Paper 2000. Between 2003–04 the Countryside Agency identified 18 Beacon Towns in England; demonstrating the range of different problems and challenges which market towns experience, and other towns can learn from. Details of their experiences are set out in the Countryside Agency's report 'Beacon Towns: The Story Continues', available from the Agency's website at http://mt.net.countryside.gov.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=2840
	The delivery functions that used to be carried out by the Countryside Agency (including work on Beacon Towns) transferred to regional development agencies and Government Offices from 1 April 2005. Regional development agencies have continued to support the delivery of individual Beacon Town projects during 2005–06.
	The not-for-profit organisation Action for Market Towns is also focusing on work with three specific Beacon Towns: Faringdon, Carterton and Wolverton. The aim is to generate an ongoing knowledge and skills exchange between these and other experienced market town partnerships.

Calls to Prayer

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance she gives local authorities on the acceptable volume of amplified calls to prayer; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Complaints about noise from amplified calls to prayer can be addressed by local authorities under the statutory nuisance provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. It is for the appropriate local authority to determine whether a noise amounts to a statutory nuisance. The Department does not produce guidance on acceptable levels of noise, since these will vary. Factors to be taken into account include the character of the locality, the duration of the noise and the frequency of its occurrence.

Canoeists

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to what percentage of the total length of rivers in the United Kingdom canoeists have full access throughout the year; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: holding answer 6 February 2006
	The lengths of water for canoeing on canals, rivers with public navigation rights, and rivers with formal access agreements in England total some 5,000 km (34 per cent. of the major river and canal network) but the canoeists right of access may be limited at certain times of year (eg during the angling season).
	Responsibility for access to rivers in Scotland and Wales lies with the devolved Administrations rather than with Defra.

Circuses

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to ban the use of animals in travelling circuses.

Ben Bradshaw: We do not believe there is sufficient evidence to justify an across the board ban on animals performing in travelling circuses.
	DEFRA plans to introduce a statutory code of practice for circuses to underpin the new welfare offence set out in the Animal Welfare Bill. The code will establish good practice, and assist with enforcement. Together with the proposed welfare offence it may have the effect of making it uneconomic for certain animal acts to perform in travelling circuses.

Citizens Juries

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many occasions her Department consulted citizens' juries on departmental policies in the last five years; in how many of those consultations the recommendations of the citizens' jury differed from existing departmental policy; and on how many occasions departmental policy was changed to reflect the recommendations of the citizens' jury.

Jim Knight: As part of the 'GM Nation?' public debate on genetically modified crops and food, a number of organisations set up citizens' juries to consider the issues and contribute to the debate. The outcome from such juries and hundreds of public meetings informed the advice from the independent GM debate steering board set up by the Government. This advice was taken into account in determining the Government's GM policy statement published in 2004.
	In 1999 there was a national consensus conference organised by UK CEED to discuss a way forward with radwaste management which included expert witnesses, including Defra, giving evidence to a Citizen's Panel of 12. The panel then produced a report called Final Report of the UK National Consensus Conference on Radioactive Waste".

Climate Change Consultation

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library a copy of the consultation responses received by the Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions following the publication of the draft UK Climate Change Programme 2000.

Elliot Morley: A summary of responses to the consultation on the draft UK Climate Change Programme 2000 can be found on the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/pubs/ukccp/draft/response/01.htm.

Common Agricultural Policy

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with her French counterpart to ensure that British and French farmers are treated equally in (a) monetary and (b) commercial terms under the common agricultural policy.

Jim Knight: The CAP exists in the context of the single market. It functions according to rules fixed for the EU as a whole and negotiated collectively when periodical reviews and reforms occur. Such reforms took place in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and are scheduled for 2006 and 2008–09. We held and will hold discussions with the French Government as part of these reforms.

Departmental Assets

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the items of departmental property worth over £100 that have been reported as (a) lost and (b) broken in the last 12 months.

Jim Knight: It is the policy of DEFRA its agencies, non-departmental public bodies and, where appropriate, its sponsored organisations to make financial redress in accordance with the guidance set out in Chapter 18.7 and Annexes 18.1 and 18.2 of Government Accounting.
	The information you requested is set out in the following table:
	
		Value for the year 1 January to 31 December 2005, DEFRA
		
			 Department £ 
		
		
			 (a) Lost items: – 
			 Catering Equipment 427 
			 Thefts from Departmental vehicles of one digital camera and two laptops 3,285 
			   
			 (b) Broken items: - 
			 1,690 cage traps 80,269 
		
	
	For information on thefts of items valued over £100 from DEFRA buildings, for the period 1 January to 31 December 2005, I refer the hon. Member to my earlier response on 1 February 2006, Official Report, column 519W.

Departmental Catering Budget

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much and what proportion of her Department's catering budget was spent on fair trade produce in the last period for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: From information held centrally, total turnover through Defra's catering facilities was £1,636,300 for the period January 2005 to December 2005 inclusive. Of this amount, £459,000 (28 per cent.) is accounted for by fair trade produce.

Departmental Catering Budget

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's policy is on the procurement of fair trade produce for consumption on its premises.

Jim Knight: The department policy on the procurement of fair trade produce is that farm assured produce, organic food and fair trade products should be promoted and all feature on the menu on a daily basis. Contracts are measured against this requirement. All hospitality beverages (teas, coffees and chocolate) served within Defra premises is fair trade produce.
	The hon. Member may wish to refer to the Defra website where further detail can be found in the Catering Services Food Procurement Toolkit": which is designed for the use of Public Sector organisations. http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/sustain/procurement/toolkit.htm. Pages: 6, 16, 37, 38, 79, 93, and 129. refer to fairly traded produce.

Departmental Regulations

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many regulations from her Department came into force in each year since 1996–97.

Jim Knight: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) was formed in June 2001 as a result of the merger of the former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the former Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. Relevant agencies and non-departmental public bodies were also absorbed into the new organisation.
	The following table identifies the number of statutory instruments which fall within scope of Defra's activities and that came into force between 8 June 2001 and 31 December 2005. The figures include new regulations and amending regulations which concern technical or clarifying amendments to existing regulations.
	
		
			  Number of Defra SIs coming into force 
		
		
			 2001(4) 54 
			 2002 128 
			 2003 115 
			 2004 146 
			 2005 153 
		
	
	(4) 8 June to 31 December
	From 2006 Departments are required to publish an annual list of forthcoming legislation it expects to introduce in that year. Defra published its 2006 list on 31 January and this can be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/regulat/regulat.asp-forthcoming.

Digital Television (Energy Efficiency)

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance she has issued to digital television (a) broadcasters, (b) manufacturers and (c) retailers on the energy efficiency of digital television appliances.

Elliot Morley: Defra has worked closely with the Department for Trade and Industry and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport—who have lead policy responsibility for digital switchover—through the Digital TV Group to identify the projected increases in energy consumption arising from digital switchover and to identify actions for mitigating these increases.
	My Department, via the Market Transformation Programme (MTP), by proactively working with the European Commission and service providers to develop and encourage sign up to the EU Code of Conduct for Digital TV Services which sets energy efficiency standards for digital TV equipment, has been able to help mitigate projected increases from service providers such as BskyB, by around 400,000 TC per annum.
	I have also written to all the major digital TV broadcasters, service providers and retailers urging them to sign up to the EU Code of Conduct, including for terrestrial digital TV equipment.
	Defra, via MTP, has also been working closely with the Energy Saving Trust to extend it's successful Energy Saving Recommended product labelling scheme to include Integrated Digital Television (IDTVs) sets. To be endorsed, IDTVs have to conform to a challenging set of energy performance criteria in both standby and on-mode functions. In addition, purchase of an IDTV now will negate the necessity to install a set top box, thus achieving additional energy savings. In its first month, three manufacturers have registered a total of 20 products with the scheme.

English Nature

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on English Nature's delivery plan; when the latest plan will be published; and whether this plan imposes (a) targets and (b) statutory requirements on local planning authorities.

Jim Knight: English Nature is a public service organisation, which provides advice and influences policies at national, regional and local level in order to conserve and enhance our natural environment.
	English Nature does not publish formal delivery plans. However, its latest corporate plan, covering the period 2005–08 is available on its website at: www.english-nature.org.uk
	Local planning authorities already have a statutory responsibility to consult English Nature over development that would affect Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
	Subject to parliamentary approval, English Nature, parts of the Countryside Agency and DEFRA's rural development service, will be brought together from 1 October into a single body, Natural England, to be responsible for conserving, managing and enhancing the natural environment. Natural England will be responsible for publishing its own reports and plans.

Farm Income

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farming households in England were living below the Government low-income threshold in each year since 1996–97.

Jim Knight: Pursuant to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Kettering (Mr. Hollobone) on 17 January 2006, Official Report, column 1183W, the low income threshold as defined by the Department for Work and Pensions cannot be compared with any estimate of average farm household income. This is because the low income threshold published by the Department for Work and Pensions has been re-scaled for a standardised household consisting of two adults only.
	Data on farm household income was collected for the first time in 2005 and is expected to be published later this year.

Farm Income

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) percentage and (b) real terms changes in total income from farming were in each of the last four years.

Jim Knight: The information requested is presented in the following table.
	
		
			  £ million Percentage change 
		
		
			 Total income from farming   
			 2002 2,361.8 27.8 
			 2003 3,080.7 30.4 
			 3004 2,766.7 -10.2 
			 2005 2,521.3 -8.9 
			
			 Total income from farming in real term (2005 prices)   
			 2002 2,573.2 25.8 
			 2003 3,261.8 26.8 
			 3004 2,845.0 -12.8 
			 2005 2,521.3 -11.4

Farm Subsidies

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of single farm payments she expects to have been paid by the end of February.

Jim Knight: holding answer 2 February 2006
	We cannot be precise at this stage about how many payments will have been made by the end of February 2006. However, we expect the bulk of payments to be complete by the end of March 2006.

Farm Subsidies

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what changes in pillar II funding from earlier estimates are expected in 2007–13 as a result of the recent EU budget reform.

Jim Knight: The overall budget for the Rural Development Regulation was agreed as part of the Financial Perspective (2007–13) negotiations and has been set at €69.75 billion for the whole EU. This is roughly in line with existing expenditure, although with a greater focus in the new member states. Once the mandatory transfer from CAP subsidies to rural development agreed as part of the 2003 reform are taken into account, (also known as compulsory modulation), EU spending on rural development will be higher—during the 2007–13 period than it is currently.
	The European Commission has yet to propose the detailed allocation for each member state. For the UK, a key element of the budget deal was securing the flexibility to make use of voluntary modulation or additional transfers of funds from pillar I to pillar II. This will enable us to meet our manifesto commitments on Environmental Stewardship. We will look at all financing arrangements for the successor Rural Development Programme from 2007 with the Treasury and in light of the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review.

Fisheries

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will visit Iceland to see how it is managing its fish stocks.

Ben Bradshaw: I have already visited Iceland in August 2004 as part of a series of tours to explore the ways various non-EU countries managed their fisheries. The Icelandic approach to managing fish stocks is, along with examples from other countries, being taken into account in the current programme to change our own quota management arrangements.

Footpath Closure Orders

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many applications for footpath closure orders have been made in each metropolitan district in the county of Greater Manchester under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 since the act came into force; and how many were successful in each district.

Jim Knight: This information is held by local highway authorities and could be gathered only at a disproportionate cost.

Freedom of Information

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what total sum has been received by her Department for the provision of information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in its first year of operation.

Jim Knight: Since the Freedom of Information Act came into force, the Department has not received any payment for the provision of information under the Act, nor for answering requests under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
	The Freedom of Information Act allows for public authorities to determine when the cost of processing a request will exceed the appropriate limit, which for central Government are set at £600 and for the wider public sector £450. In this instance the public authority may decide to either approach the applicant to help them refine their request and where possible to bring it under the appropriate limit. Alternatively, public authorities may charge the applicant the cost of processing the request. There is, however, no obligation for Departments to provide information if the cost of processing the request exceeds the appropriate limit.
	Public authorities may also charge for disbursements when handling requests where it is deemed appropriate. Further information on the FOI fees regime can be found on the DCA website at http://www.foi.gov.uk/feesguide.htm.

GM Crops

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of terminator seed technology on free access to genetic resources.

Elliot Morley: Terminator technology (genetic use restriction technologies or GURTs) involves a wide range of technically complex, inter-related issues that are evolving rapidly. While the Government keeps abreast of the potential impact of this technology on a range of stakeholders, we have not undertaken a specific study into the impact on free access to genetic resources.
	We do however monitor developments in the genetically modified (GM) field overall and seek stakeholder views more generally. In 2003, we initiated the GM nation" public debate which sought to explore the public's views on GM crops and food. All GM issues were open for debate but we did not seek specifically views on GURTs. We regularly meet with relevant stakeholders to keep abreast of their views on all GM matters and GURTs have been raised on occasion. We also monitor development in the scientific press and the wider media.

GM Crops

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the Government will support the Convention on Biodiversity Decision V/5 section III on the field testing and commercialisation of genetic use restriction technologies at the forthcoming 2006 Convention on Biodiversity meetings.

Elliot Morley: The UK Government support the decision that the Convention on Biological Diversity took in 2000 that there should be a precautionary approach to the use of genetic use restriction technologies (GURTs) while research into the possible impacts of these technologies is carried out.
	At the meeting of the convention in March, this year, parties will consider recommendations and reports from the convention's subsidiary body and other working groups on this issue. They will be invited to reaffirm the previous decision. Our position at the meeting will take full account of these reports, as well as the EU's own regulatory regime.

GM Crops

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what was the value of genetically modified crops imported to the UK from Spain in (a) 2003 and (b) 2005.

Elliot Morley: The only GM crop which is approved for cultivation in Spain is maize, and we understand that no GM maize that has been grown in Spain is exported to the UK. Any GM maize grain imported into the UK from Spain would itself have been imported into Spain from outside the EU.
	The total value of grain maize (combined figure for both GM and non-GM) exported from Spain to the UK in (a) 2003 and (b) 2005 was:
	
		
			  £ 
			  Value 
		
		
			 2003 1,152,000 
			 2005 17,742,000 
		
	
	Only part of the total export was genetically modified. We do not keep specific records of the total of specifically GM imports, although since April 2004 exporters have been required under new EU legislation to keep for five years records of imports of GM crops. This data is not however collected centrally.
	GM maize is only legal in the EU if the product has been approved under stringent EU legislation.

GM Crops

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much genetically modified maize was imported to the United Kingdom in (a) 2004 and (b) 2005.

Elliot Morley: The total volume of grain maize (combined figure for both GM and non-GM) imported to the United Kingdom in (a) 2004 and (b) 2005 was:
	
		
			  tonnes 
			  Volume 
		
		
			 2004 1,257,921 
			 2005 1,169,953 
		
	
	We do not keep records of the total of specifically GM imports, although since April 2004 exporters have been required under new EU legislation to keep for five years records of imports of GM crops. This data is not however collected centrally.
	GM maize can only be imported legally to the United Kingdom if the product has been approved under stringent EU legislation.

Grey Squirrels

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the control of grey squirrels.

Jim Knight: I refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement I made on 20 January 2006, Official Report, column 37WS, announcing the publication of the Policy and Action Statement for the management of Grey Squirrel in England's woodlands. This policy sets out the rationale and actions for the control of grey squirrels.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2005, Official Report, column 930W, on identity cards, whether her Department has finalised the current best estimates of the cost of using the identity cards scheme to support the services which it oversees.

Jim Knight: As is the case with other Government Departments, Defra has begun an exercise to establish the benefits and costs arising from the introduction of identity cards. The initial stage underway will perform a broad scan across the range of Defra's services to identify areas of potential costs and benefits. These areas will be investigated in more detail as part of a subsequent stage, with support from the Home Office Identity Cards Programme.

Lyons Inquiry

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has sent a written submission to the Lyons inquiry on local government finance.

Jim Knight: The Lyons inquiry is independent of the Government. Sir Michael Lyons will decide what to publish when he makes available his final report.

National Reserve

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the allocation of the National Reserve to be finalised.

Jim Knight: Eligibility decisions have been taken on 99.8 per cent. of all National Reserve applications and since 3 January the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has been informing successful applicants of their National Reserve awards.
	RPA anticipates that, where possible, all applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application by 22 February.

Organic Entry Level Scheme

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers have been registered under the Organic Entry Level Scheme in (a) Devon, (b) Cornwall, (c) Somerset and (d) Dorset.

Jim Knight: holding answer 6 February 2006
	As at 3 February 2006, the following numbers of farmers had successfully entered into Organic Entry Level Stewardship agreements:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Devon 48 
			 Cornwall 27 
			 Somerset 16 
			 Dorset 18

Parliamentary Questions

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many parliamentary questions tabled in the last 12 months for answer by her on a named day (a) were transferred and (b) received a substantive answer (i) on the day named and (ii) after the day named;
	(2)  how many ordinary written parliamentary questions tabled for answer by her in the last 12 months have been answered (a) within 14 days, (b) between 14 and 28 days, (c) between 28 days and two months and (d) in excess of two months after the date of tabling; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The following information is as follows:
	
		
			  
		
		
			 Number of Named Day PQs transferred 23 
			 Number transferred on the day named 23 
			 Number transferred after the day named 0 
			 Number of Named Day PQs that received a substantive answer 478 
			 Number answered on the day named 153 
			 Number answered after the day named 325 
		
	
	Note:
	All figures are for PQs received between 1 February 2005 to 31 January 2006.
	
		
			  
		
		
			 Number of Written PQs answered 2,871 
			 Number answered within 14 days 2,409 
			 Number answered between 14 and 28 days 268 
			 Number answered between 28 days and two months 76 
			 Number answered in excess of two months 118 
		
	
	Note:
	All figures are for PQs received between 1 February 2005 to 31 January 2006.

Press Complaints

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many occasions since 1 April 2003 she has complained to the Press Complaints Commission about the coverage in the press of (a) Ministers or officials and (b) her Department; and how many of these complaints were upheld.

Jim Knight: There have been no complaints to the PCC from this Department in that time.

Rural Payments Agency

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will examine the reasons for the delay by the Rural Payments Agency in establishing definitive maps in respect of the holdings of John Lumsdon of Mayhouse Farm, Hadley, Droitwich Spa, WR9 OAS, reference numbers 17/510/0048 and 106620345.

Jim Knight: Due to the size of the Rural Land Register project, and the amount of land the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is trying to capture, there have been some instances when RPA has been unable to capture edits as quickly as it would like.
	However, I am pleased to report that revised maps have now been sent to Mr. Lumsdon.

Set-aside

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been allocated to each EU country in set aside payment within the Common Agricultural Policy in 2005–06.

Jim Knight: Under the Single Payment Scheme, the number of set-aside entitlements allocated in each member state in the first year of application of the scheme is determined, in the main, by the average number of hectares under compulsory set-aside under the Arable Area Payments Scheme (AAPS) during the 2000–02 reference period. Subject to the exemptions that applied at the time, notably for small producers, that equates to 10 per cent. of the total area claimed under AAPS in each member state in the reference period. Total figures for those member states operating the scheme in 2005 are not yet available, but the amount of payment attached to set-aside entitlements in each member state will vary according to whether the 'historical' or 'flat-rate/hybrid' model of the scheme has been adopted. For those member states still operating AAPS in 2005, set-aside payment figures are again unavailable at this point, but will be determined by the number of applicants applying under the scheme, how much land they put into set-aside and the 63 euros/tonne payment rate.

Sheep Dip

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects on (a) biodiversity and (b) the environment of synthetic pyrethroid sheep dip.

Ben Bradshaw: It is widely known that synthetic pyrethroids can cause environmental problems if they are allowed to come into contact with watercourses. Recent reports from the Environment Agency of pollution incidents caused by the synthetic pyrethroid cypermethrin used in sheep dipping have included the loss of aquatic insects and other invertebrate species and possible resulting decline of the insect-feeding fish populations.
	The veterinary medicines directorate and the Environment Agency are currently consulting on a programme to reduce pollution from such incidents.

Sheep Dip

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  for what reasons the veterinary medicines directorate and Environment Agency consultation on the future use of synthetic pyrethroid sheep dip is not a public consultation;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the compliance of the current format of the veterinary medicines directorate and Environment Agency consultation on the future use of synthetic pyrethroid sheep dip with the openness about environmental decision-making required by the Aarhus Convention.

Ben Bradshaw: The consultation on the draft Pollution Reduction programme for sheep dip is a public consultation.
	Following a number of reports of serious pollution incidents arising from the use of synthetic pyrethroid sheep dips, the veterinary medicines directorate and the Environment Agency called a public stakeholder meeting to consider how the issue could be addressed. The meeting was held in September last year and subsequently from the agreed actions, a draft Pollution Reduction programme for sheep dip was produced.
	During December, the draft programme was sent out for consultation to all who attended the meeting.
	One of the external stakeholders pointed out that the Pollution Reduction programme was not available on the internet. This error was corrected when the consultation package was put on to the veterinary medicines directorate website on 27 January.

Sheep Dip

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what volume of synthetic pyrethroid sheep dip was licensed for disposal in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: The Environment Agency's database currently holds approximately 9,000 authorisations issued for a period of four years to sheep farmers under the Groundwater Regulations 1998 for disposal of sheep dip. The database records only the maximum amount of sheep dip which may be disposed of, rather than actual volumes, and does not distinguish between specific sheep dips such as synthetic pyrethroids or organophosphorus compounds. Records of specific substances and quantities disposed of are required to be kept by the holders of authorisations, but this information is not held centrally by the EA and would be disproportionately expensive to collate.
	VMD records show that 51,700 litres of cypermethrin sheep dip were sold in 2005, indicating the quantities which would require disposal after use.

Sheep Dip

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what quantity of synthetic pyrethroid sheep dip chemical precursors were sold in each of the last five years; and how much sheep dip by volume would be produced when the precursors were prepared for use.

Ben Bradshaw: For the control of sheep ectoparasites by plunge dipping, synthetic pyrethroid sheep dips products have to be diluted with water to make the dip. The rates of dilution differ between products and the ectoparasites for which the animals are to be treated. The range of dilutions are 1:400 to 1:1,000 with 1:500 the most common rate. Using this rate:
	In 2001: 32,000 litres of cypermethrin sheep dip were sold for dilution to 16 million litres.
	In 2002: 57,000 litres of cypermethrin sheep dip were sold for dilution to 28 million litres.
	In 2003: 65,000 litres of cypermethrin sheep dip were sold for dilution to 33 million litres.
	In 2004: 57,000 litres of cypermethrin sheep dip were sold for dilution to 28 million litres.
	In 2005: 52,000 litres of cypermethrin sheep dip were sold for dilution to 26 million litres.

Single Farm Payment

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many applications for Single Farm Payment made in 2004 (a) are still under review and (b) have not been processed by the Rural Payments Agency; and if she will set a date by which a decision on all such applications will be made.

Jim Knight: The Single Payment Scheme was introduced in the UK on 1 January 2005, the earliest opportunity possible under the regulations. Therefore, there were no applications to this scheme in 2004.
	All applications to the 2005 scheme have been assessed, although just over half of the claim population is still in the process of completing validation.
	As I stated on 31 January 2006, full payments under the Single Payment Scheme will start at the end of February 2006, with the bulk complete in March 2006.
	I expect all payments will be made well within the payment window set by EU legislation which runs until 30 June 2006.

Single Farm Payment

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was of administering the single farm payment scheme in each year since its introduction.

Jim Knight: The Single Payment Scheme (SPS) was introduced in 2005 and the cost of administering claims for that year under this scheme will largely fall in the financial year 2005–06. The cost of administering all CAP schemes, including SPS, in England during 2005–06 is forecast at £148 million. The allocation of these costs between schemes will not be finalized until after the year end.

Single Farm Payment

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of single farm payments she expects to have been paid by the end of (a) February and (b) March.

Jim Knight: We cannot be precise at this stage of the proportions of payments under the single payment scheme to have been paid by the end of February 2006. However, we expect the bulk of payments to be complete by the end of March 2006.

Statutory Instruments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the statutory instruments introduced by her Department since 6 May 2005.

Jim Knight: The Department introduced 105 Statutory Instruments for the period in question. These are listed as follows.
	The Access to the Countryside (Correction of Provisional and Conclusive Maps) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
	The Agricultural Holdings (Units of Production) (England) Order 2005
	The Animal By-Products Regulations 2005
	The Animal Health Act 1981 (Amendment) Regulations 2005
	The Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) Regulations 2005
	The Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures in Zoos) Regulations 2005
	The Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) Regulations 2005
	The Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (No. 2) Regulations 2005
	The Beet Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
	The Boiler (Efficiency) (Amendment) Regulations 2006
	The Calshot Oyster Fishery Order 2005
	The Cattle Compensation (England) Order 2005
	The Cattle Compensation Order 2006
	The Cereal Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
	The Charges for Inspections and Controls (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2005
	The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 (Commencement No.2, Transitional Provisions and Savings) (England and Wales) Order 2005
	The Climate Change Agreements (Eligible Facilities) Regulations 2006
	The Common Agricultural Policy (Wine) (England and Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
	The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Cross Compliance) (England) Regulations 2005
	The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Reductions from Payments) (England) Regulations 2006
	The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment Scheme (Set-aside) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
	The Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
	The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (Commencement No. 8) Order 2005
	The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (Commencement No. 9) Order 2005
	The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (Commencement No. 10) Order 2005
	The Crime Prevention (Designated Areas) (No.3) Order 2005
	The Dairy Produce Quotas (Amendment) Regulations 2006
	The Detergents Regulations 2005
	The Diseases of Animals (Approved Disinfectants) (Amendment) (England) Order 2005
	The Diseases of Poultry Declaratory (Infected Area) (England) Order 2005
	The Diseases of Poultry Declaratory (Infected Area) (England) (No. 2) Order 2005
	The Diseases of Poultry Declaratory (Infected Area) (Merger of Zones) (England) Order 2005
	The Diseases of Poultry Declaratory (Infected Area) (Merger of Zones) (Revocation) (England) Order 2005
	The Dog Control Orders (Prescribed Offences and Penalties, etc.) Regulations 2006
	The Drought Plan (England and Wales) Regulations 2005
	The Energy Information (Household Air Conditioners) Regulations 2005
	The Energy Information (Household Air Conditioners) (No. 2) Regulations 2005
	The Enterprise Act 2002 (Bodies Designated to make Super-complaints) (Amendment) Order 2005
	The Environmental Impact Assessment (Land Drainage Improvement Works) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
	The Environmental Impact Assessment (Uncultivated Land and Semi-Natural Areas) (England) Regulations 2005
	The Environmental Offences (Use of Fixed Penalty Receipts) Regulations 2006
	The Environmental Protection Act 1990 (Amendment of Section 57) (England and Wales) Regulations 2005
	The Environmental Stewardship (England) and Organic Products (Amendment) Regulations 2005
	The Farm Woodland Premium Schemes (Amendment) (England) Scheme 2005
	The Fees for Assessment of Active Substances (Fourth Stage Review) Regulations 2005
	The Financial Assistance for Environmental Purposes Order 2005
	The Fodder Plant Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
	The Foot and Mouth Disease (Control of Vaccination) (England) Regulations 2006
	The Foot and Mouth Disease (England) Order 2006
	The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) and National Emissions Inventory Regulations 2005
	The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Approved National Allocation Plan) Regulations 2005
	The High-activity Sealed Radioactive Sources and Orphan Sources Regulations 2005
	The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (England) Regulations 2005
	The Home-Grown Cereals Authority (Rate of Levy) Order 2005
	The Individual Ascertainment of Value (England) Order 2005
	The Landfill (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
	The Leicestershire County Council (Ashby de la Zouch Canal Extension) Order 2005
	The List of Wastes (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
	The Litter (Fixed Penalty Notices) Order 1991 and the Dog Fouling (Fixed Penalties) Order 1996
	(Revocation) (England) Order 2005
	The North-West, Severn-Trent and Welsh Regional Flood Defence Committees (Boundaries Alteration) Order 2005
	The Oil and Fibre Plant Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
	The Older Cattle (Disposal) (England) Regulations 2005
	The Pesticides (Maximum Residue Levels in Crops, Food and Feeding Stuffs) (England and Wales) Regulations 2005
	The Pesticides (Maximum Residue Levels in Crops, Food and Feeding Stuffs) (England and Wales) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2005
	The Plant Breeders' Rights (Discontinuation of Prior Use Exemption) Order 2005
	The Plant Health (England) Order 2005
	The Plant Health (Export Certification) (England) (Amendment) Order 2005
	The Plant Health (Forestry) Order 2005
	The Plant Protection Products Regulations 2005
	The Plant Protection Products (Amendment) Regulations 2005
	The Pollution Prevention and Control (Public Participation) (England and Wales) Regulations 2005
	The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2005
	The Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) (No. 4) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
	The Public Rights of Way (Register of Applications under section 53(5) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981) (England) Regulations 2005
	The Radioactive Contaminated Land (Enabling Powers) (England) Regulations 2005
	The Registration of Fish Buyers and Sellers and Designation of Auction Sites Regulation 2005
	The Reporting of Prices of Milk Products (England) Regulations 2005
	The Salmonella in Broiler Flocks (Survey Powers) (England) Regulations 2005
	The Sea Fishing (Enforcement of Community Control Measures) (Amendment) Order 2005
	The Seed (Registration, Licensing and Enforcement) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
	The Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) (England) Order 2005
	The Smoke Control Areas (Authorised Fuels) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
	The Smoke Control Areas (Exempted Fireplaces) (England) Order 2005
	The Southern Water Services Limited (Weir Wood Reservoir) (Drought) Order 2005
	The Southern Water Services Limited (Weir Wood Reservoir) (Drought) (No.2) Order 2005
	The Stanswood Bay Oyster Fishery Order 2005
	The Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Regulations 2006
	The TSE (England) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2005
	The Tuberculosis (England) Order 2005
	The Tuberculosis (England) (Amendment) Order 2006
	The Vegetable Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
	The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2005
	The Veterinary Surgery (Testing for Tuberculosis in Bovines) Order 2005
	The Volatile Organic Compounds in Paints, Varnishes and Vehicle Refinishing Products Regulations 2005
	The Waste (Household Waste Duty of Care) (England and Wales) Regulations 2005
	The Waste Management Licensing (England and Wales) (Amendment and Related Provisions) (No. 2) Regulations 2005
	The Waste Management Licensing (England and Wales) (Amendment and Related Provisions) (No.3) Regulations 2005
	The Water Act 2003 (Commencement No. 5, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2005
	The Water Act 2003 (Consequential and Supplementary Provisions) Regulations 2005
	The Water Supply (Exceptions from Supply System Prohibitions) Regulations 2005
	The Water Supply Licence (Application) Regulations 2005
	The Water Supply Licence (Modification of Standard Conditions) Order 2005
	The Water Supply Licence (New Customer Exception) Regulations 2005
	The Water Supply Licence (Prescribed Water Fittings Requirements) Regulations 2005
	The Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee Order 2005

Timber

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what monitoring her Department carries out to measure the effectiveness of policies to restrict the import of illegal timber.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 13 February 2006
	All UK Government policy is regularly reviewed and monitored for effectiveness.
	The Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Regulation adopted by the EU in December 2005 is key in tackling the importation of illegally logged timber. Member states will submit annual reports on the implementation of the policy and there will be a formal review from the two years after the entry into force of the first partnership agreement.
	We are also committed to taking forward commitments made on illegal logging at last years G8 Environment and Development Ministerial. The Ministers' recommendations were endorsed by Heads at the Summit in Gleneagles in July 2005 and Ministers agreed that officials would meet in 2006 to review progress against these objectives.

Timber

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Government's timetable is for negotiating Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade voluntary agreements with partnership countries.

Gareth Thomas: I have been asked to reply.
	The EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan identifies a number of potential partner countries. The European Commission and member states began consultations in 2005 with four of these—Cameroon, Ghana, Indonesia and Malaysia, with a view to beginning formal negotiations once a mandate had been given by the European Council. That mandate was given in late 2005 and formal negotiations can begin when these partner countries and the EU agree that the preparatory work has been completed. Consultations will begin with other potential partner countries in 2006 drawing on the experience already gained. The time taken to complete negotiations will vary from partner country to partner country. It is anticipated that the first partnership agreement will be signed in 2007.

Urban Biodiversity

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice her Department has (a) received from statutory advisors and (b) sought from experts on the role of gardens in urban biodiversity.

Jim Knight: holding answer 13 February 2006
	Defra, English Nature, the Countryside Council for Wales, and the Environment and Heritage Service (Northern Ireland) are funding research by Sheffield University into biodiversity in urban gardens (BUGS).
	An initial BUGS project, completed at the end of 2002, involved a three year investigation into the significance of urban gardens in Sheffield as habitats for 'natural' biodiversity, and tested the efficacy of some simple methods for enhancing garden biodiversity. The results confirmed that 'gardens are brilliant for wildlife'. And further details are available on the BUGS website at http://www.bugs.group.shef.ac.uk/BUGS1/bugs1-index.html
	A second BUGS project is now building on the methods and findings of the first study. This project, which is also supported by Defra, widens the scope of this work to examine the resource that gardens provide for wildlife, and the diversity of plants, across different parts of the UK, and different urban forms. It will run until 2006–07, and the results will feed into Biodiversity Action Plans for urban areas.

Waste Incineration Directive

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she intends to delay the application of the Waste Incineration Directive to tallow until the Directorate-General Environment has completed its review of the directive's impact on the combustion of tallow.

Ben Bradshaw: The Waste Incineration Directive has been transposed into national law and we currently have no grounds on which to change that. I am advised that, as the law currently stands, the burning of waste tallow as fuel remains subject to the requirements of that directive.
	In June 2005, the Government wrote to the European Commission expressing its view that the existing requirements of the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) (75/442/EEC as amended) and the Directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (96/61/EC) are sufficient to ensure that the burning of waste tallow as fuel is carried out in ways which protect the environment and public and animal health. The Government called for the EU Animal By-Products Regulation (ABPR) and the WID to be amended accordingly.
	In response, the Commission stated that there did not appear to be sufficient justification at present for it to propose an exclusion of the burning of waste tallow from the WID. However, the Commission also confirmed that the WID is not intended to discourage uses of waste as competitive and efficient alternative energy sources, agreed that it is desirable that it does not have such an effect and has initiated further analysis of the issue in the form of a study. This study should help to clarify the wider environmental and economic impacts of the current legislation.
	I recognise that recent announcements by the European Commission have raised the possibility that this legal position might change in the future. My understanding is that the Commission's study of the environmental impacts of burning tallow has now commenced and will report in the second half of 2006. If the outcome of this study were favourable to the burning of waste tallow as fuel without having to meet the requirements of the WID, then this could lead to a change in the relevant legislation although it is suggested that this is unlikely to occur before 2009. I must also stress that such an outcome is by no means a foregone conclusion.

Water Abstraction

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether water abstraction charges are planned to be levied on a (a) regional and (b) national basis;
	(2)  what representations she has received concerning regional charges for water abstraction licences;
	(3)  what proposals she has received from the Environment Agency concerning water abstraction charges.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency has a statutory duty to manage water resources in England and Wales. It recovers the costs of managing water resources from abstraction licence holders through an abstraction charges scheme that is approved by Ministers. The recovery of its day-to-day costs expended in meeting this duty is, and will continue to be, on a regional basis.
	The Environment Agency is expected to take action against abstraction licences where the abstraction is adversely impacting on conservation sites, and in particular those designated under European legislation. Where it needs to revoke or modify an abstraction licence then compensation is generally payable. The compensation payments form part of the agency's costs of meeting its duties and therefore are costs to be recovered via abstraction charges.
	The Environment Agency has recently consulted on proposals to recover any compensation that may be payable via a national, rather than regional, formula. The Department has received representations, in light of that consultation, from a number of Members of Parliament whose constituencies lie in the north east of England and in particular those served by Northumbrian Water plc. The representations have been made to draw the Department's attention to the concerns of the Consumer Council for Water, the North East Chamber of Commerce and Northumbrian Water about a national approach. Anglian Water has made representations in support of a national approach.
	The Environment Agency has made proposals to the Department to raise its regional Standard Unit Charges, which are the basis of the recovery of day-to-day costs of managing water resources in England and Wales, in 2006–07.
	The Environment Agency has not proposed to the Department any changes to the abstraction charges scheme in relation to the recovery of any compensation payments it may need to make. Therefore no decision has been made by Ministers on this element of abstraction charges.

Water Supply

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what minimum (a) additional water supply infrastructure, (b) additional works to existing water supply infrastructure and (c) change in per capita consumption of water she expects to be required in order to enable an adequate water supply to be maintained when the Government have achieved its target for additional new dwellings in the Thames Gateway by 2016; and what plans the Government have to take the action necessary to ensure adequate water supply.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency is the statutory body with a duty to manage water resources in England and Wales. As part of the agency's management role it has both national and regional water resource strategies which set out the pressures over the next 25 years.
	Water companies have statutory duties to maintain adequate supplies of water. They have 25 year water resource plans which complement the agency strategies and seek to reconcile supply with anticipated demand. This forward planning framework exists to take account of factors such as the water supply and disposal infrastructure required to service significant new housing developments of which the Thames Gateway is an example.
	Although produced voluntarily, every five years, at present these plans will become a statutory requirement under the provisions of the Water Act 2003. The Department is currently consulting on the exercise of the new powers in respect of statutory water resource plans.
	The Government will introduce regulations to secure improved water efficiency in new housing and will be issuing a consultation paper later this year.

Working Dogs

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the percentage of working dogs which have had their tails amputated as a consequence of injury.

Ben Bradshaw: None. However, these amputations can only be performed by a qualified vet.

World Trade Organisation (Sensitive Products)

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria the EU applied when designating agricultural products as sensitive in the forthcoming World Trade Organisation negotiations.

Jim Knight: In October, in the run-up to the sixth ministerial meeting in Hong Kong, the EU made an offer on improved market access for agricultural products. Others, such as the US, did so too. An agreed feature of the market access negotiations is that all countries will be permitted to protect sensitive products, by applying less than the agreed reduction rates to the tariffs on these products. The EU suggested that up to 8 per cent. of a country's tariff lines on agricultural products should be deemed sensitive products. The US suggested 1 per cent., so there is a considerable divide here that, because the matter was not discussed or decided at Hong Kong, still needs bridging.
	The EU Commission negotiates on behalf of the EU member states in the WTO negotiations. EU member states have not discussed or seen any list of sensitive products or criteria from the Commission. We would not expect to do so before the number of sensitive products has been agreed. The EU may yet decide to offer a figure lower than 8 per cent. in order to secure a Doha deal, which could then effect the choice of sensitive products. In addition, agreeing the treatment of sensitive products is, of course, as important as agreeing the number.
	It is difficult for any issue within the Doha Trade Round to be viewed in isolation, as any agreement reached will be part of a package. For this reason, the Commission is unlikely to have any fixed criteria, for the designation of sensitive products, that they would wish to share at this present time.

World Trade Organisation (Sensitive Products)

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to add vulnerable egg lines to the EU list of products designated as sensitive in the forthcoming World Trade Organisation negotiations.

Jim Knight: In October, in the run-up to the sixth ministerial meeting in Hong Kong, the EU made an offer on improved market access for agricultural products. Others, such as the US, did so too. An agreed feature of the market access negotiations is that all countries will be permitted to protect sensitive products, by applying less than the agreed reduction rates to the tariffs on these products. The EU suggested that up to 8 per cent. of a country's tariff lines on agricultural products should be deemed sensitive products. The US suggested 1 per cent., so there is a considerable divide here that, because the matter was not discussed or decided at Hong Kong, still needs bridging.
	The EU Commission negotiates on behalf of the EU member states in the WTO negotiations. EU member states have not discussed or seen any list of sensitive products or criteria from the Commission. We would not expect to do so before the number of sensitive products has been agreed (the choice of products designated will depend upon the number of sensitive lines available). The EU may yet choose to offer a lower figure than 8 per cent. in order to secure a Doha deal. In addition, agreeing the treatment of sensitive products is, of course, as important as agreeing the number.
	The UK Government are not endorsing any product as sensitive until the number and treatment of sensitive products is agreed. In general, the hon. Member will be aware that the UK Government wish to see only a minimal number of sensitive products as we believe a large number would undermine the potential benefits of the Doha Round.
	We continue to receive representations from the egg industry and representatives for the egg industry are also able to lobby the Commission direct. The UK Government will review their own position when we know the parameters we have to work to.

TREASURY

Amber Communications Management Ltd.

Roger Gale: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when HM Revenue and Customs expect to be in a position to repay the sums owing to Amber Communications Management Ltd. of Margate.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 18 January 2006
	Section 18 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 does not permit HM Revenue and Customs to disclose information relating to the tax affairs of individual taxpayers.

Banks

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward legislation under which banks would not be permitted to close branches without demonstrating that the local citizens would not experience any deterioration in credit and banking services.

Ivan Lewis: All of the main high street banks and building societies are signatories to the Banking Code. Out of the five recommendations on bank closures made at the time of the last independent review, four were accepted outright. Through the Banking Code there is now an obligation for subscribers to:
	give customers extended notice of branch closure if the road distance of the nearest alternative branch is more than one mile in urban areas or more than four miles in rural areas;
	explain how they continue to provide services after the branch has been closed in a way that is specific to local provision; and,
	give notice of a substantial reduction in opening hours.
	The Government's approach to improving local services is to work with communities to help them understand and articulate their needs to those who deliver services.
	This sort of collaborative working will ensure that communities benefit from our programmes to modernise, improve and support services and will enable communities to help themselves to meet the needs of local people.

Business Taxation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many section 660 investigations by HM Revenue and Customs are currently open; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not currently available.

Car Registrations

Greg Knight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of trends in new car registrations in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years; what changes he forecasts in each of the next two years; on what basis these forecasts are made; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Limited, average annual growth in new car registrations from 2001 to 2005 was 2 per cent. Total new car registrations and annual growth in each of the last five years are presented in the following table. HM Treasury do not publish forecasts of new car registrations.
	
		
			  Total new car registrations Annual growth (percentage) 
		
		
			 2001 2,458,769 10.7 
			 2002 2,563,631 4.3 
			 2003 2,579,050 0.6 
			 2004 2,567,269 -0.5 
			 2005 2,439,717 -5.0

Census

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he (a) is taking and (b) plans to take to enforce penalties for failing to complete a census form.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 February 2006
	As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking (a) what steps are being taken and (b) what plans there are to enforce penalties for failing to complete a census form. (51215)
	For the 2001 Census, as with previous censuses, the Office for National Statistics followed a policy of enforcing legal proceedings against persons who persistently refused to fulfil their statutory obligation to return a completed census form, and where it had obtained clear and sufficient documentary evidence of such a refusal. The objective is to improve response by prosecution and the threat of prosecution, to support census field staff and to deter non-compliance for any future census.
	Interviews under Caution were conducted and voluntary witness statements obtained, as required under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) Code of practice which governs the treatment and questioning of persons who refuse to complete a census form. Particular attention was given to those reported cases where refusals were accompanied by acts of intimidation towards field staff.
	This policy will also be followed for non-compliance in the 2011 Census although the precise arrangements for enforcing legal action are yet to be developed.

Census

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials were responsible for compiling the 2001 census in Southend-on-Sea, broken down by grade; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 February 2006
	As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary Question asking how many officials were responsible for compiling the 2001 census in Southend-on-Sea, broken down by grade. (50834)
	The number and disposition of field staff working in Southend-on-Sea during the 2001 Census is listed as follows:
	
		
			 Job title Number of staff 
		
		
			 Census Area Manager 1 
			 Census District Managers 5 
			 Census Team Leaders 15 
			 Census Enumerators 168 
			 Total 189 
		
	
	Personnel working at the Widnes Processing office and Census HQ in Titchfield carried out tasks across all local authorities and were not specifically responsible for compiling figures for particular areas such as Southend-on-Sea. Over the 10 month life of the Widnes Processing site the number of staff employed to process forms for the UK averaged 1,200. The core number of staff from the Office for National Statistics at Titchfield assigned to 2001 Census activities averaged between 100 and 150. These included statisticians, researchers, information technology specialists and staff providing administrative support.

Census

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what mechanisms are available to (a) hon. Members and (b) local authorities to dispute the findings of a national census; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested fall within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 February 2006
	As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what mechanisms are available to (a) hon. Members and (b) local authorities to dispute the findings of a national census. (50835)
	There are a number of mechanisms available by which it is possible to dispute the findings of a national census. As you will know, Members of Parliament can ask questions in the House and receive a response from either the ONS Minister or from myself. Alternatively, they can write directly to me or to the Census Director, outlining their concerns. Local Authorities can also use these routes or may choose to channel their views through the Central and Local Government Information Partnership (CLIP) Census Sub Group. This group is one of a number of Census Advisory Groups which provide a forum for communication between the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the user community on requirements for information from, and the operational planning of, the Census in England and Wales.
	The Census legislation does not provide any specific legal mechanisms for disputing the findings of a national census.
	On a more general level, one of the components of our 'Statement of Compliance with the National Statistics Code of Practice1 is an additional 'Statement on Customer Service and Complaints' (http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about_ns/cop/compliance.asp). The latter provides guidance to stakeholders on how to make a formal complaint about any aspect of our administration or service, and what they can do if they are unhappy about our response.

Census

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the accuracy of census figures for (a) Southend-on-Sea and (b) Essex in each of the last two censuses; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 February 2006
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what assessment has been made of the accuracy of census figures for (a) Southend-on-Sea and (b) Essex in each of the last two censuses. (50478)
	Following the 2001 Census for England and Wales, the Office for National Statistics undertook an extensive programme of work to investigate the reasons for the difference between the 2001 Census and the mid-year population estimates (MYEs) at both national and local levels. This research included a series of Local Authority studies carried out in 2004 which were designed to improve the MYEs in the areas that proved hardest to count in the Census. An extensive review was carried out for 32 local authorities, including Southend-on-Sea, to assess whether there was evidence that the population might have been under- or over-estimated. The results of these studies showed that better estimates of the population could be made in 15 areas and an adjustment was made to the MYEs in these areas. For the great majority of areas, including Southend-on-Sea, it was found that the 2001 Census-based population estimate remains the best estimate of the population. A full report on these Local Authority Studies can be found at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_population/LAStudy_FullReport.pdf
	The detailed report for Southend-on-Sea can be found at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_population/LAStudy_Southend_on_Sea.pdf
	The Census 2001 Quality report for England and Wales provides information about all aspects of quality relating to the 2001 Census. It provides an overview of the quality issues and the studies and analyses that have been carried out to improve the quality of census data. The Quality report is held in the House of Commons Library or can be downloaded from www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/proj_qr.asp
	Additional information pertaining to the quality of results from the 2001 Census for local areas can be found at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/stat_methods_qual.asp
	Official assessments of the quality of the 1991 Census were published in the 1991 Census General Report (ISBN 0–11–691616–8) and User Guide 58 (Undercoverage in Great Britain). These were carried out at national level and no assessment of quality was made for individual Local Authorities. The General Report is held in the House of Commons Library and User Guide 58 may be obtained from Census Customer Services:
	census.customerservices@ons.gov.uk
	The 1991 Census Validation Survey assessed the coverage of the Census and the quality of the Census information recorded about those people who were successfully enumerated. The 1991 Census Validation Survey: Quality Report (ISBN 0–11–691688–5) and 1991 Census Validation Survey: Coverage Report (ISBN 0–11–691591–9) are held in the House of Commons Library.

Climate Change Levy

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much in climate change levy was paid by three-digit industry categories since it was introduced; and on what percentage of industry output the levy was charged.

John Healey: It is not possible to break down climate change levy receipts by three-digit industry categories or calculate the percentage of industry output covered. This is because HM Revenue and Customs collect the levy from energy suppliers, not individual businesses. However, estimates of climate change levy by industry sector are available in the Cambridge Econometrics report, Modelling the Initial Effects of the Climate Change Levy" (at Appendix D), published at Budget 2005.

Council Tax

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 12 January 2006, Official Report, column 766W, on council tax, when the copies of the external guidance will be placed in the Library.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been assured by officials that the external guidance was deposited in the Library of the House on 12 January, the day I answered the question from the hon. Member for Meriden, and that further copies of the guidance were deposited on 26 January. The Library has confirmed that they have the guidance and that it is available to Members. I am arranging for copies if the guidance to be sent to the hon. Gentleman and the hon. Member for Meriden.

Credit Unions

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many credit unions have been established in each of the past 10 years; and what the total number of credit unions in England and Wales is.

Ivan Lewis: The number of credit unions registered under the Credit Unions Act over the past 10 years is shown in the following table. This break down is based on all registrations in Great Britain as a whole (rather than for England and Wales only).
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1996 36 
			 1997 51 
			 1998 47 
			 1999 50 
			 2000 39 
			 2001 23 
			 2002 31 
			 2003 11 
			 2004 16 
			 2005 12 
			 2006 (5)1 
		
	
	(5) to date
	There were 561 authorised credit unions in Great Britain as at 10 February 2006.

Credit Unions

Brian Jenkins: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of credit unions operating in Tamworth constituency.

Ivan Lewis: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is responsible for registering credit unions under the Credit Unions Act 1979. It monitors and supervises the manner in which credit unions comply with the statutory and regulatory requirements and rules, taking whatever action it considers appropriate in the event of non-compliance.
	One area of supervision is to ensure that the activities of a credit union are consistent with the objects laid down in their statute. However it is not a function of the FSA to investigate whether or not a credit union achieves its aims or whether it is effective in addressing the needs it was set up to meet. That is for the credit union and its members to assess.

Departmental Expenditure

Oliver Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on entertainment by his Department in 2004–05; and how much of that sum was accounted for by (a) food, (b) alcohol, (c) staff and (d) accommodation.

Ivan Lewis: The Treasury's expenditure on official entertainment for 2004–05 was £213,000. Further analysis could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All expenditure on official entertainment is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting".

Departmental Staff

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in his Department are paid on a performance-related basis.

Ivan Lewis: All HM Treasury employees are paid on a performance-related basis.

Earnings

Greg Knight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the change in average earnings in the (a) private sector, (b) public sector and (c) United Kingdom as a whole over the last 10 years; what impact this has had on the formulation of policy; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The growth in the Public Sector Average Earnings Index (AEI) was 4.2 per cent. in the year to November 2005 (single month figure, for Great Britain, seasonally adjusted and excluding bonuses, Source: Office for National Statistics), compared to 3.7 per cent. in the Private Sector and 3.8 per cent. in the Whole Economy.
	In the short-term the public and private sector AEI growth can diverge and they usually do, but in the long-term they tend to be very similar. The average annual growth between March 1997 (the earliest available data) and November 2005 was 4.0 per cent. in the public sector and 4.2 per cent. in the private sector (and 4.1 per cent. in the whole economy).
	Government policy on public sector pay is devolved to individual Departments, while the Treasury maintains a monitoring and co-ordinating role. Government policy on public sector pay remains one of ensuring pay awards are justified, affordable and deliver value for money. Given that it accounts for around a quarter of all public spending, controlling pay is essential to delivering value for money and keeping inflationary pressures in check.
	With this in mind, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has written to the public sector Pay Review Bodies emphasising the importance of basing its pay settlements on the achievement of the inflation target of 2 per cent. Furthermore, to achieve a more co-ordinated approach to pay across the public sector, the Government have now established a new single gateway to scrutinise all significant public sector pay proposals (as announced in the last pre-Budget report). Reporting to myself, the objective of the gateway (Public Sector Pay Committee) is to establish a common set of objectives for pay across government, extending and strengthening existing arrangements. Its aim is to ensure that all new pay structures are evidence-based, represent value for money and are financially sustainable over the long run, including taking account of the pensions implications of new pay decisions.

Employment Statistics

Maria Miller: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many women were in paid (a) full-time and (b) part-time employment in each year since 1980.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 February 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about women in employment. (50720)
	The attached table gives the number of women who were working in full-time or part-time employment, for the three months ending May each year from 1984 to 2005. Information is not available for earlier periods on a comparable basis.
	Estimates are taken from the Office for National Statistics's Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		Women in employment by whether working full or part-time—three months ending May each year—United Kingdom, seasonally adjusted
		
			 Thousand 
			  All in employment(6) Full-time Part-time 
		
		
			 Spring 1992 11,500 6,478 5,022 
			 Spring 1993 11,477 6,409 5,068 
			 Spring 1994 11,548 6,395 5,153 
			 Spring 1995 11,640 6,490 5,150 
			 Spring 1996 11,838 6,529 5,309 
			 Spring 1997 12,043 6,668 5,375 
			 Spring 1998 12,143 6,727 5,416 
			 Spring 1999 12,348 6,888 5,461 
			 Spring 2000 12,526 6,979 5,547 
			 Spring 2001 12,672 7,073 5,599 
			 Spring 2002 12,815 7,195 5,620 
			 Spring 2003 12,908 7,210 5,698 
			 Spring 2004 13,046 7,292 5,754 
			 Spring 2005 13,216 7,540 5,677 
		
	
	(6) Includes those women who did not state whether they worked full or part-time.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey
	
		Women in employment by whether working full or part-time—United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted
		
			 Thousand 
			 Three months ending May each year All in employment(7) Full-time(8) Part-time(8) 
		
		
			 1984 9,935 5,551 4,371 
			 1985 10,171 5,695 4,474 
			 1986 10,368 5,833 4,527 
			 1987 10,615 5,969 4,635 
			 1988 11,021 6,259 4,756 
			 1989 11,465 6,500 4,960 
			 1990 11,613 6,647 4,965 
			 1991 11,503 6,531 4,971 
			 1992 11,497 6,448 5,042 
			 1993 11,471 6,374 5,085 
			 1994 11,537 6,359 5,169 
			 1995 11,621 6.451 5,165 
			 1996 11,809 6,484 5,322 
			 1997 12,007 6,618 5,385 
			 1998 12,103 6,676 5,424 
			 1999 12,309 6,838 5,469 
			 2000 12,492 6,932 5,558 
			 2001 12,645 7,029 5,612 
			 2002 12,790 7,152 5,634 
			 2003 12,886 7,165 5,714 
			 2004 13,025 7,243 5,774 
			 2005 13,194 7,489 5,698 
		
	
	(7) Includes those women who did not state whether they worked full or part time.
	(8) Full/part-time is based on respondents self assessment.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey

Financial Services Authority

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what research he has undertaken on the relative cost effectiveness of the Financial Services Authority;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Financial Services Authority's scrutiny of the financial services industry; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA) enables a review to take place of the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has used its resources in discharging its functions. As announced in the pre-Budget report 2005, the Treasury aims to hold the first such review in the near future.
	The effectiveness of some FSA functions was considered as part of the Treasury's Two-Year Review of FSMA, the outcome of which was announced on 2 December 2004. As part of this review the FSA improved its provision of advice and guidance, improved the accessibility of its handbook of rules, improved its cost-benefit analysis, and reduced consultation burdens.

Fuel Smuggling

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the extent of fuel smuggling into Northern Ireland in 2005.

Dawn Primarolo: The latest estimates of revenue loss in the hydrocarbon oils sector are published in 'Measuring Indirect Tax Loss-2005', which was published alongside the PBR. All estimates for Northern Ireland relate to total non-UK duty paid consumption rather than the illicit market. This is because it is not yet possible to split revenue losses between those resulting from the illicit market and those from legitimate cross-border shopping.

Gold Reserves

Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2006, Official Report, column 739W, on gold reserves, what interest has been earned from the funds reinvested from the sale of gold reserves; and if he will list the movement in currencies against sterling since that date.

Ivan Lewis: The gold sales between July 1999 and March 2002 reflected a prudent decision to reduce over-exposure to a single asset in the net reserves portfolio. The gold sales reduced risk by around 30 percent. (as measured by value-at-risk) and are not expected to deliver a loss in return when measured over the medium to long-term; the appropriate time horizon for such a decision.

Government Accounts

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what independent auditing the Whole of Government Accounts will be subject; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Section 11 of the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 provides for the Comptroller and Auditor General to audit Whole of Government Accounts.

Gross Domestic Product (Peterborough)

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what level of gross domestic product was recorded in each of the last five years in (a) the Peterborough city council area and (b) Peterborough constituency.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 February 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in each of the last five years for the Peterborough City Council area and Peterborough constituency (51387).
	Gross Value Added (GVA) 1 rather than GDP data exists for the Peterborough NUTS3* area, which is currently the lowest geographic level at which GVA is published. The latest published information is for 2003.
	The estimates in the table below are based on the regional GVA estimates published in December 2005. These data are available on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=7359
	1 Information presented here is Gross Value Added (GVA) which is Gross Domestic Product (GDP) less taxes (plus subsidies) on products.
	* Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics
	
		Gross value added (GVA)(9) for Peterborough (NUTS3 area) at current basic prices 1999 to 2003
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1999 2367 
			 2000 2448 
			 2001 2572 
			 2002 2733 
			 2003 2921

HM Revenue and Customs

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria HM Revenue and Customs uses to determine whether an appeal against one of its decisions constitutes a test case.

Dawn Primarolo: All the circumstances of a case are taken into account, including whether there is a question of law in need of clarification which has wider relevance to taxpayers as a whole.

HM Revenue and Customs

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the evidence from HM Revenue and Customs to the Public Administration Committee on 20 October 2005, Question 81, on the tax credits system, when the part manual-part computerised method of suspending the automatic recovery of overpayments in tax credits will be introduced; and how this differs from the manual intervention introduced from November 2005.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 26 January 2006
	The interim method of suspending disputed overpayments was introduced in November 2005. This interim method, is the part manual and part computerised method, as described in answer to Q81 of the Public Administration Committee on 20 October 2005. From November 2006 a fully computerised system is planned.

HM Revenue and Customs

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what criteria he uses to decide whether the HM Revenue and Customs logo may appear on a commercial product; and whether HM Revenue and Customs endorses any tax calculation products which do not include the full UK tax return.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 31 January 2006
	HMRC authorises suppliers to use its logo only in cases where there is clear benefit to the Department and its relationship with its customers.
	PAYE products produced by a third party can carry the following message if they have achieved HMRC's Payroll Standards: Tested and meets HM Revenue & Customs Payroll Standard". This message does not include the HMRC logo.
	In addition, although HMRC does not endorse any of these products, the Self Assessment Filing Partner logo was developed for those software vendors who entered into an agreement with HMRC to jointly promote their SA filing online services.

Income Tax

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount of tax which would be raised by introducing a new 49 per cent. tax band for those with incomes over (a) £100,000 per annum, (b) £125,000 per annum, (c) £150,000 per annum and (d) £200,000 per annum; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is in the following table.
	
		Revenue yields from introducing a new 49 per cent. band in 2005–06
		
			 Income level at which the new 49 per cent. is introduced (£)  Yield (£ billion) 
		
		
			 100,000 3.1 
			 125,000 2.6 
			 150,000 2.1 
			 200,000 1.7 
		
	
	These estimates assume tax changes to earned income and savings only—the higher rate income tax on dividends remains at 32.5 per cent.
	The income tax information is based upon the 2003–04 Survey of Personal Incomes and 2005 pre-Budget assumptions.
	The figures exclude any estimate of behavioural response to the tax change, which could be significant given the scale of the changes.

Interpal

Richard Burden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what representations he has received from the Israeli embassy in relation to the Interpal charity in the last six months; what meetings have been held between embassy officials and Ministers from his Department on the subject; and what was discussed at those meetings;
	(2)  what representations he has received from representatives of the Interpal charity in the last six months; what response he has made to those representations; and if Ministers from his Department will meet representatives of Interpal to discuss their concerns.

Des Browne: HM Treasury does not comment on the details of ministerial meetings. The Treasury receives numerous representations from a range of organisations in the course of Treasury business. Interpal is one such organisation, but it would be inappropriate to comment on the details of any one particular case.

Lisbon Agenda

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess British progress in fulfilling the criteria of the Lisbon Agenda; when he expects the UK to have fulfilled those criteria; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: At the 2005 Spring European Council, European leaders agreed to re-launch the Lisbon Strategy with a renewed emphasis on Growth and Jobs. Since 2001, average GDP growth has been 2.3 per cent. in the UK compared to just 1.4 per cent. in the euro area. The UK is also one of just three member states that meet all three Lisbon employment targets. And as set out in the Chancellor's Pamphlet Global Europe: Full Employment Europe" (October 2005), the UK has an ongoing economic reform agenda for Europe.

National Insurance

Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much greater the income of the National Insurance Fund would have been (a) in each year from 2003–04 to 2006–07 and (b) in total for that period if the additional National Health Service allocation under the National Insurance Contributions Act 2002 in respect of employers' contributions had been a percentage of earnings over the secondary threshold on which contributions are payable instead of a percentage of total earnings; and if he will take steps to ensure that funds to the total value of the additional income which would have been so raised is remitted to the Fund.

Dawn Primarolo: The NHS allocation is calculated in accordance with Section 162 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992. The National Insurance Fund provides funds to pay state retirement pensions and other contributory benefits and is currently in surplus.
	There is no question of the National Insurance Fund being left in a position where commitments to pensioners and other benefit claimants cannot be met. However, the information requested is provided in the following table:
	
		Extra Income to the National Insurance Fund if Increased NHS Allocation from NICs Act 2002 Applied to Earnings over Secondary Threshold Only
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2003–04 940 
			 2004–05 970 
			 2005–06 1,010 
			 2006–07 1,050 
			 Total 3,970 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The figures provided are for Great Britain accruals and are in cash (i.e. not constant prices) terms.
	2. The figures provided are estimates from the model used to forecast National Insurance contributions and are consistent with PBR2005 projections.
	3. All figures have been rounded to the nearest £10 million.

National Insurance

Stephen Byers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many people who are self-employed and working abroad paid the voluntary class 2 national insurance contribution in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how many people living abroad have changed their national insurance contributions from class 3 to class 2 in each of the last 10 years.

Dawn Primarolo: The following table shows how many people paid class 2 or 3 contributions whilst abroad from 1997–98 onwards. Similar information is not available for earlier years. Information on the numbers that are paying class 2 and who are in employment abroad or who have changed from paying class 3 to paying class 2 contributions, is not readily available. Such information could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Number of individuals with voluntary class 2 contributions from abroad Number of individuals with voluntary class 3 contributions from abroad All 
		
		
			 2003–04 16,000 37,000 53,000 
			 2002–03 13,000 39,000 52,000 
			 2001–02 10,000 36,000 46,000 
			 2000–01 6,000 36,000 42,000 
			 1999–2000 5,000 33,000 38,000 
			 1998–99 4,000 28,000 32,000 
			 1997–98 2,000 21,000 23,000

Population

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the current population of (a) each Essex borough and (b) each ward in Southend West constituency based on (i) the 2001 Census, (ii) electoral rolls and (iii) health service users; and what projections he has made for the next five years.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 February 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question regarding the current population of (a) each Essex borough and (b) each ward in Southend West constituency based on (i) the 2001 Census, (ii) electoral rolls, and (iii) health service users; and what projections have been made for the next five years. (50479)
	The tables attached provide the information you have requested. Data for Essex local authorities, including the former Essex authorities of Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock, are shown in Table 1 and Table 2. Data for wards in Southend West are shown in table 3.
	ONS publishes annual mid-year population estimates. The latest estimates are for mid-2004 and are given in Table 1. These mid-year population estimates are calculated using a robust methodology and are the best estimates of the resident population in an area. They are based on aged-on 2001 Census data adjusted for births, deaths, and net migration. Further information on the methodology can be found at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=575.
	Population projections for each local authority in Essex, for mid-2005 to mid-2010, are also given in Table 1. These projections are based on the mid-2003 population estimates and are the latest population projections available. They assume that trends in fertility, mortality and migration at the time of the mid-2003 population estimate will continue into the future.
	Electoral rolls provide counts of the number of people registered to vote. The latest available data, on the local/European electorate and the Parliamentary electorate, for local authorities in Essex can be found in the Table 2. These data are for 1 December 2004. It should be noted that the number of people eligible to vote is not the same as the resident population aged 18 and over. There are numerous reasons for this. For example not everyone who is usually resident is entitled to vote (foreign citizens from outside of the EU and Commonwealth, prisoners, etc. are not eligible), some people do not register to vote and people who have more than one address may register in more than one place. Further, there is inevitably some double counting of the registered electorate as electoral registration officers vary in how quickly they remove people from the registers after they have moved away from an area or after they have died. These factors have a differential impact from area to area.
	The number of people registered with a GP, living in each local authority in Essex, in July 2004, can also be found in the Table 2. It should also be noted that patient register counts differ from estimates of the usually resident population for a number of reasons.
	Patient registers include people who are in the country for at least three months, whereas population estimates are based on a usual residence definition requiring a stay of 12 months or more. The patient registers exclude individuals who are ineligible to be registered with a GP. People may be on a patient register after having left the country and not deregistered with their GP; similarly people may have moved to another area and not re-registered. Some patients may have more than one NHS number e.g. they may have been issued a temporary number for a short period. Again, these factors have a differential impact from place to place.
	Ward data are shown in Table 3; the points set out above also apply to wards. However, there are some further points to note for wards.
	The most recent population estimates for wards are for mid-2002. The closest available geography to current electoral wards, for which population estimates are available, is Census Area Statistics (CAS) wards. This geography was created for outputs from the 2001 Census and is based mainly on 2003 electoral wards. The CAS ward level population estimates have been published with the status of experimental statistics". Therefore, the estimates, and figures derived from them, should be treated with some care. The margin of confidence for population estimates is proportionately larger at ward level than at local authority level.
	The ONS does not produce projections of population at ward level.
	Table 3 contains CAS ward electorate counts for December 2002 and 2004 as well as patient register figures for July 2002 and July 2004. The 2002 figures are given for comparison with population estimates and 2004 are the latest available data.
	Finally, the local government electorate is definitionally closer to the population estimates, however these data are not available at ward level. Hence, the Parliamentary electorate is shown.
	
		Table 1: Mid-2004 population estimates and mid-2005 to mid-2010 population projections (2003-based )
		
			 Thousand 
			  Population estimate Population projections(9) 
			  Mid-2004 Mid-2005 Mid-2006 Mid-2007 Mid-2008 Mid-2009 Mid-2010 
		
		
			 Southend-on-Sea 159.6 161.0 161.4 161.8 162.3 162.8 163.4 
			 Thurrock 145.7 147.6 148.8 150.0 151.1 152.3 153.5 
			 
			 Basildon 166.5 166.9 167.2 167.5 167.8 168.2 168.6 
			 Braintree 136.2 138.7 140.6 142.4 144.1 145.8 147.5 
			 Brentwood 70.2 69.4 69.3 69.2 69.2 69.1 69.1 
			 Castle Point 86.8 87.6 87.9 88.2 88.4 88.7 89.0 
			 Chelmsford 159.8 159.2 159.6 159.9 160.4 160.8 161.2 
			 Colchester 160.7 160.3 161.1 161.9 162.7 163.5 164.3 
			 Epping Forest 121.3 121.8 122.1 122.4 122.7 123.1 123.5 
			 Harlow 77.5 77.9 77.9 78.0 78.1 78.2 78.3 
			 Maldon 60.3 61.5 62.1 62.8 63.5 64.1 64.8 
			 Rochford 79.1 80.0 80.5 81.0 81.5 82.0 82.4 
			 Tendring 141.5 143.7 145.2 146.6 148.1 149.6 151.0 
			 Uttlesford 70.4 70.7 71.0 71.3 71.7 72.0 72.3 
		
	
	(9) The population projections shown in this table are taken from the 2003-based subnational population projections, the latest set of projections currently available. Therefore they may not be consistent with the 2004 mid year estimate presented in the first column.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics
	
		Table 2: Electoral register counts (December 2004) and patient register counts (July 2004)
		
			  Electors(10) Parliamentary electors(11) Patient register 
		
		
			 Southend-on-Sea 125,485 124,491 176,781 
			 Thurrock 107,264 106,736 148,941 
			 
			 Basildon 127,487 126,889 179,677 
			 Braintree 105,204 104,658 141,950 
			 Brentwood 53,277 52,838 75,669 
			 Castle Point 69,378 69,188 92,654 
			 Chelmsford 126,748 125,948 167,686 
			 Colchester 123,060 121,535 167,076 
			 Epping Forest 92,249 91,429 127,977 
			 Harlow 55,609 55,172 84,296 
			 Maldon 46,111 45,931 63,449 
			 Rochford 63,384 63,212 83,699 
			 Tend ring 109,242 108,839 142,897 
			 Uttlesford 54,873 54,323 74,976 
			 
			 Southend West Constituents 65,523 65,070 91,494 
		
	
	(10) Local government electors are those people who are entitled to vote in local elections and who meet the residence qualification. These include Peers and European citizens but exclude overseas voters.
	(11) Parliamentary electors are those people who are entitled to vote in parliamentary elections at Westminster and who meet the residence qualification. Those include overseas voters but exclude Peers and European citizens.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics.
	
		Table 3: CAS wards in Southend West parliamentary constituency: population estimates, 2001 census, electorate counts, and patient register counts
		
			
			 Ward code Ward name Population Estimate Mid-2002 Electorate December 2002 Electorate December 2004 Patient Register July 2002 Patient Register July 2004 
		
		
			 00KFMP Belfairs 8,871 7,315 7,373 9,426 9,568 
			 00KFMQ Blenheim Park 10,035 7,565 7,684 10,805 10,816 
			 00KFMR Chalkwell 9,287 7,221 7,368 10,387 10,356 
			 00KFMS Eastwood Park 9,343 7,555 7,663 9,787 9,929 
			 00KFMU Leigh 9,004 6,998 7,120 9,727 9,794 
			 00KFMX Prittlewell(12) 9,575 7,617 7,521 10,267 10,429 
			 00KFMY St Laurence 9,678 7,468 7,597 10,139 10,154 
			 00KFNE Westborough 10,214 6,873 7,102 11,014 11,113 
			 00KFNF West Leigh 8,668 6,886 6,931 9,210 9,335 
		
	
	(12) This ward also falls within Rochford and Southend East Parliamentary Constituency. Data for the whole ward are shown, as it is not possible to split this data for this ward into the two constituencies.
	Notes:
	1. The mid-2002 ward population estimates are consistent with the published mid-2002 local authority estimates (September 2004 revisions).
	2. Whilst the ward population estimates are produced down to unit level, it is not implied that the estimates are accurate to this level of detail.
	3. The electorate counts are taken from the statutory RPF 29 returns.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

Population

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the accuracy of the most recent population figures provided by the Office for National Statistics for the City of Peterborough.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 February 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question about what assessment of the accuracy of the population figures provided by the Office for National Statistics has made in relation to Peterborough. (51394)
	Population estimates are calculated using an internationally respected methodology. Further information can be found in the detailed methodology guide 'Making a population estimate in England and Wales'. This is published here: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=575
	It is becoming increasingly difficult to estimate the size of the population because of changes in society, which include increased mobility and different living arrangements. The decennial Census provides a benchmark against which national and sub-national population estimates can be assessed. Substantial work has been done on the difference between mid-year population estimates and the 2001 Census. This work is summarised in the final report of the 2004 Local Authority Population Studies, which can be found here: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_population/LAStudy_FullReport.pdf
	These studies confirmed that the 2001 Census had worked well in most areas, including Peterborough, but there were a few cases where the adjustment for under-enumeration was not able to adjust sufficiently for exceptional circumstances. This work, together with revised international migration estimates, accounted for a large proportion of the initial 1.1 million difference between mid year estimates and the Census; reducing the difference to a little over 0.2 million.
	In addition, extensive annual quality assurance is undertaken in order to ensure the accuracy of the annual mid-year estimates. Quality assurance starts with detailed checking of the source data used in the components of change (birth, deaths, etc.). Procedures are then in place to ensure that these data sources are correctly processed when deriving the estimates. The calculated national and sub-national estimates, for all 376 local authorities in England and Wales, are then subject to a further set of quality assurance procedures before they are published. These procedures include reviews of sex ratios and age profiles, comparisons of change over time, and comparisons of fertility and mortality rates. Substantial effort has already been undertaken, in recent years, to improve the quality assurance of population estimates.
	ONS is also now investing substantially in a project to Improve Migration and Population Statistics (IMPS). (More information on this project can be found at: www.statistics.gov.uk/IMPS). The key aims of this project are to reduce the size of the difference between the 2011 Census results and the mid-year estimates and to better understand any difference that does remain. As part of this project, we are developing a data comparator tool to enable us to compare the annual mid-year estimates against a range of administrative sources. This work is ongoing and the results will inform our understanding of the accuracy of the mid-year population estimates. The tool was trialled in the mid-2004 population estimates, which were published in August 2005.
	Another strand of the IMPS project is a review of the quality assurance procedures that are currently in place for population estimates. One of the aims of this review is to assess what improvements can be made to existing procedures, and determine whether additional quality assurance is required.
	ONS also produces population projections for each local authority area. The methodology used in the production of the subnational population projections is an established and recognised methodology. Subnational population projections undergo extensive quality assurance before publication. In addition, local authorities and health authorities are consulted on the first year of migration assumptions used as the baseline trend for migration.
	Population estimates and projections are supplied to the ODPM. I understand that ODPM make checks to ensure that the data as provided by the ONS have been correctly entered into their calculations for allocating Formula Grant to local authorities. Otherwise, they do not make any assessment of accuracy of the data supplied, as this responsibility lies with the ONS.

Population

David Burrowes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the accuracy of the population figures provided by the Office for National Statistics in relation to Enfield.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 February 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question about what assessment of the accuracy of the population figures provided by the Office for National Statistics has made in relation to Enfield. (50864)
	Population estimates are calculated using an internationally respected methodology. Further information can be found in the detailed methodology guide 'Making a population estimate in England and Wales'. This is published here: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Productasp?vlnk=575
	It is becoming increasingly difficult to estimate the size of the population because of changes in society, which include increased mobility and different living arrangements. The decennial Census provides a benchmark against which national and sub-national population estimates can be assessed. Substantial work has been done on the difference between mid-year population estimates and the 2001 Census. This work is summarised in the final report of the 2004 Local Authority Population Studies, which can be found here:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_population/LAStudy_FullReport.pdf
	These studies confirmed that the 2001 Census had worked well in most areas, including Enfield, but there were a few cases where the adjustment for under-enumeration was not able to adjust sufficiently for exceptional circumstances. This work, together with revised international migration estimates, accounted for a large proportion of the initial 1.1 million difference between mid year estimates and the Census; reducing the difference to a little over 0.2 million
	In addition, extensive annual quality assurance is undertaken in order to ensure the accuracy of the annual mid-year estimates. Quality assurance starts with detailed checking of the source data used in the components of change (birth, deaths, etc.). Procedures are then in place to ensure that these data sources are correctly processed when deriving the estimates. The calculated national and sub-national estimates, for all 376 local authorities in England and Wales, are then subject to a further set of quality assurance procedures before they are published. These procedures include reviews of sex ratios and age profiles, comparisons of change over time, and comparisons of fertility and mortality rates. Substantial effort has already been undertaken, in recent years, to improve the quality assurance of population estimates.
	ONS is also now investing substantially in a project to Improve Migration and Population Statistics (IMPS). (More information on this project can be found at: www.statistics.gov.uk/IMPS ) The key aims of this project are to reduce the size of the difference between the 2011 Census results and the mid-year estimates and to better understand any difference that does remain. As part of this project, we are developing a data comparator tool to enable us to compare the annual mid-year estimates against a range of administrative sources. This work is ongoing and the results will inform our understanding of the accuracy of the mid-year population estimates. The tool was trialled in the mid-2004 population estimates, which were published in August 2005.
	Another strand of the IMPS project is a review of the quality assurance procedures that are currently in place for population estimates. One of the aims of this review is to assess what improvements can be made to existing procedures, and determine whether additional quality assurance is required.
	ONS also produces population projections for each local authority area. The methodology used in the production of the subnational population projections is an established and recognised methodology. Subnational population projections undergo extensive quality assurance before publication. In addition, local authorities and health authorities are consulted on the first year of migration assumptions used as the baseline trend for migration.
	Population estimates and projections are supplied to the ODPM. I understand that ODPM make checks to ensure that the data as provided by the ONS have been correctly entered into their calculations for allocating Formula Grant to local authorities. Otherwise, they do not make any assessment of accuracy of the data supplied, as this responsibility lies with the ONS.

Post Office Card Account (West Lancashire)

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in West Lancashire use a Post Office Card Account to access child benefit.

Dawn Primarolo: Approximately 950 recipients in the parliamentary constituency of West Lancashire used a Post Office Card Account to access child benefit in November 2005.

Press Coverage

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions since 1 April 2003 he has complained to the Press Complaints Commission about the coverage in the press of (a) Ministers or officials and (b) his Department; and how many of these complaints were upheld.

Des Browne: None.

Public Contracts

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce regulations to ensure that no Government department or public body will be able to award public contracts to any organisation or firm without checking that it has paid the taxes due to HM Treasury.

John Healey: Decisions on awarding public contracts are for contracting authorities to make consistent with their legal obligations and responsibility for achieving value for money.
	The Public Contracts Regulations 2006, which implement the EU Public Procurement Directive, permit contracting authorities to exclude from a public procurement, any candidate who has not fulfilled obligations relating to the payment of taxes in any part of the United Kingdom. The Regulations also include a new provision requiring the mandatory exclusion of companies who have been convicted of fraud and corruption offences including offences relating to cheating the Revenue, defrauding the Customs and taxation in the European Community.

Public Information

Roger Gale: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on the Department's public relations and information services in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Ivan Lewis: The Treasury's only spending on public relations and information services in the financial years 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05 has been the costs of its Press Office and the costs of its main external website. The totals for the three years are 2002–03 £1,234,000; 2003–04 £1,268,000; and 2004–05 £1,167,000. Information in respect of earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost due to a change in accounting system in 2002–03.

Self-assessment Awareness Campaign

Anne Milton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2006, Official Report, column 1208W, on the self-assessment awareness campaign, what the results of the value for money audit carried out by Billetts have been to date.

Dawn Primarolo: The conclusion of the Billetts value for money audit is that costs were better than their industry standard measure—and on a par with industry standard in terms of the quality of airtime bought. In conjunction with a cheaper channel mix this represents very good value for money.

Student Loans

Tim Farron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what mechanisms are in place for HM Revenue and Customs to inform the Student Loans Company when graduates' income exceeds the threshold above which loans must be repaid.

Dawn Primarolo: The Student Loan Company is sent details of student loan deductions taken from the annual return that the employer makes to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for each employee. HMRC notifies the employer that they should start making student loan deductions where the employee's earnings exceed the annual threshold.

Syngenta

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when (a) he and (b) his officials last met representatives of Syngenta.

Ivan Lewis: To the best of my knowledge, no meetings have taken place between the Chancellor or Treasury officials and representatives of Syngenta for at least the last three years.

Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many letters the Office of the Paymaster General has received from hon. Members concerning problems with tax credits since 2003; and how many were replied to within (a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four, (e) five and (f) six months or over.

Dawn Primarolo: I very much regret the delay in replying to the right hon. Member, the more so since it is not possible to provide a breakdown of correspondence by subject matter except at disproportionate cost. TCO aims to deal with 80 per cent. of tax credits correspondence within 15 working days and 95 per cent. of correspondence within 40 working days.

Tax Credits

Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate has been made of the extent of involvement of organised crime in the tax credit system in Northern Ireland since its introduction;
	(2)  how many applications for tax credits have been halted in Northern Ireland in each month since their introduction due to suspicion that organised criminals have tried to obtain tax credits;
	(3)  how many staff within HM Revenue and Customs in Northern Ireland have been tasked with investigating (a) fraud and (b) other criminal activity by organised gangs in each of the last three years, broken down by grade; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  how many staff within HM Revenue and Customs in Northern Ireland have been tasked with investigating (a) fraud and (b) other criminal activity by organised gangs in each of the last three years, broken down by grade; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 20 January 2006
	I refer the hon. Lady to the statements made in the House on 18 January 2006, Official Report, column 1358W and 23 January 2006, Official Report, column 1736W.
	To disclose detailed information about the deployment of staff investigating fraud and other criminal activity would prejudice the prevention, investigation and detection of crime or the prosecution of offenders.

Tax Credits

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of changing the tax credits income increase disregard from £2,500 to £25,000.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to my response to the hon. Member for Ludlow (Mr. Dunne) on 26 January 2006, Official Report, column 2246W.

Tax Credits

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will establish a fully staffed tax credits office in Belfast.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 2 February 2006
	The Tax Credit Office is located in three cities; Belfast, Liverpool and Preston. These offices deal with aspects of tax credit claims made by claimants from across the UK.

Tax Credits

Roger Gale: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many appeals against repayments of tax credits were outstanding at 1 February 2006.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 13 February 2006
	At 31 January 2006, around 44,000 disputed overpayments were awaiting a decision.

Tax Credits

Roger Gale: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total value was of outstanding repayments of tax credits at 1st February 2006.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 13 February 2006
	The information is not available in the format requested.
	Information on the value of 2003–04 overpayments, the amount of 2003–04 overpayments that was recovered in 2004–05 and the expected recovery of 2003–04 overpayments in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were published in part two of the 'Comptroller and Auditor General's Standard Report on the Accounts of the Inland Revenue 2004–05'.
	This can be found on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/ir-report2005.pdf
	Information on the levels of overpayments incurred by 2004–05 awards will be published in May 2006.

Tax Credits

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the technical issues affecting the tax credit system; on what date each was (a) identified and (b) resolved; and what the cost of rectification of each was.

Dawn Primarolo: This information is not available in the format requested.

Tax Credits

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit payments were made to bank accounts outside the UK in each of the last 12 months.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer to the reply given to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws)on 10 January 2006, Official Report, column 556W.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the proposal announced in the pre-Budget report 2005 to double the number of security checks in the tax credit system will be implemented; and at what stages of a tax credit claim (a) security checks will be increased and (b) new security checks will be introduced.

Dawn Primarolo: HMRC have already increased the number of checks carried out on the highest risk claims including those involving suspect payments and those where an undeclared partner is suspected to be living with the claimant. They have also been investigating links between claimants' failure to confirm their entitlement and suspected fraud.
	In addition, from April the number of checks being carried out before a claim goes into payment will be more than doubled.

Valuation Office Agency

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes there have been in the requirements for (a) homes and (b) businesses to provide information to the Valuation Office Agency since May 1997; and what changes there have been to the penalties for non-compliance with these requirements in each category in this period.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is as follows:
	(a) For council tax purposes there has been no change to the requirements to provide information to the VOA since May 1997. Neither have there been changes to the penalties for non-compliance.
	(b) There have been no changes in the requirements for businesses to provide information to the Valuation Office Agency. However, the penalties for non-compliance changed when the Local Government Act 2003 came into effect on 18 September 2003. This Act introduced liability to a civil penalty where information is not supplied within 56 days, allowing a series of escalating financial penalties for continued non-compliance up to a maximum of the rateable value of the property concerned or £500, whichever is the greater. Prior to 18 September 2003, a person who failed to supply information required by a valuation officer within 21 days was liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale.

Valuation Office Agency

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent meetings (a) he and (b) his Ministers have had with Ministers from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister about (i) the operation of and (ii) departmental responsibility for the Valuation Office Agency.

Dawn Primarolo: Treasury Ministers and officials discuss a wide range of issues with their colleagues in ODPM and other departments. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Valuation Office Agency

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 30 November 2005, Official Report, column 529W, on the Valuation Office Agency, whether the Valuation Office Agency (a) is permitted and (b) has access to data held by HM Revenue and Customs to facilitate or assist in the levying, assessment and valuation of properties for council tax or business rates.

Dawn Primarolo: The Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 provides that information acquired by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in connection with a function may be used by them in connection with any other function. As the Valuation Office is an executive Agency of HMRC, and has been since 30 September 1991, it is permitted to access data held by HMRC.

Valuation Office Agency

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 30 November 2005, Official Report, column 529W, on the Valuation Office Agency, whether HM Revenues and Customs has access to data held by the Valuation Office Agency for the purposes of charging taxes to individuals.

Dawn Primarolo: The Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 provides for information acquired by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in connection with one function to be used in connection with any other function of HMRC.
	As the Valuation Office is an executive agency of HMRC, and has been since 30 September 1991, the use of information and data collected for council tax valuation purposes can be used in connection with any other function of HMRC including the charging of taxes on individuals.

Working Tax Credit

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the cost of amending the qualifying conditions for working tax credit to include hours spent as a carer in the same category as hours spent in employment.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 31 January 2006
	The information is not available.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Parliamentary Information Management System

Eric Pickles: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) of 31 October 2005, Official Report, column 738W, on the Parliamentary Information Management System (PIMS), whether (a) the business case has been completed and (b) a decision has been taken on making the PIMS search engine available to the public on the parliamentary internet site.

Nick Harvey: The business case for the redesign of the parliamentary internet has been written. It was considered by the Finance and Services Committee on 9 February, and will receive further consideration when the Committee next meets on 9 March. The redesign is not dependent on and does not replace the PIMS implementation. It does seek to build on the knowledge and systems generated by that project where these will provide the best value for money for Parliament. Subject to the necessary approvals, detailed plans will be drawn up for the search facilities that will be available to the public on the parliamentary internet site.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Air Ambulance Service

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether there are plans to introduce an air ambulance service in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: There are no plans to introduce an air ambulance in Northern Ireland. A helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) feasibility study published in 2004, which was commissioned by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and the Republic of Ireland's Department of Health and Children, concluded that, other than for inter-hospital transfers, there was no clear advantage in helicopter emergency medical services.
	The priority for DHSSPS is to ensure that the Northern Ireland ambulance service uses its resources to achieve improved response times to life threatening calls, both in urban and in more remote and isolated rural communities. In this context, the available evidence suggests that an air ambulance would not constitute the most effective use of resources, compared with other approaches. DHSSPS is working closely with the Northern Ireland ambulance service and the four Health and Social Services Boards to improve ambulance services in terms of speed and appropriateness of response and clinical quality.

Ambulance Service

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many emergency calls were received by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service in each service district in each year since 2000; how many of these have later been categorised as hoax calls; and what estimate has been made of the cost to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service of hoax calls during this period.

Shaun Woodward: The following data for emergency and hoax calls was provided by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS):
	
		
			 NIAS service district 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Eastern Division   
			 Emergency Calls 34,489 37,093 40,212 40,530 41,741 42,950 
			 Hoaxes 643 1,304 1,433 1,264 1,392 1,423 
			
			 Northern Division   
			 Emergency Calls 15,765 15,441 17,104 17,964 18,647 19,723 
			 Hoaxes 270 582 736 729 712 586 
			
			 Southern Division   
			 Emergency Calls 8,993 8,903 10,065 10,551 11,695 12,948 
			 Hoaxes 332 550 670 527 604 512 
			
			 Western Division   
			 Emergency Calls 8,826 9,114 10,118 10,352 10,741 11,753 
			 Hoaxes 309 642 563 656 728 470 
		
	
	NIAS estimates that the cost of despatching an A&E ambulance to a hoax call is around £150 at current prices.

Benefit Claimants

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what change there has been in the numbers of unemployed benefit claimants in the past 12 months in each of Northern Ireland's constituencies.

Angela Smith: Unemployment levels from the claimant count in each of the Northern Ireland parliamentary constituencies at December 2004 and December 2005, and the change in levels, are provided in the following table.
	
		
			 Parliamentary constituency December 2004 December 2005 Change in levels December 2004-December 2005 
		
		
			 Belfast East 1,040 993 -47 
			 Belfast North 1,952 2,108 156 
			 Belfast South 1,387 1,355 -32 
			 Belfast West 3,066 2,900 -166 
			 East Antrim 1,502 1,362 -140 
			 East Londonderry 1,983 1,685 -298 
			 Fermanagh and South Tyrone 1,459 1,329 -130 
			 Foyle 3,401 3,368 -33 
			 Lagan Valley 839 872 33 
			 Mid Ulster 788 845 57 
			 Newry and Armagh 1,716 1,388 -328 
			 North Antrim 1,293 1,368 75 
			 North Down 1,001 1,020 19 
			 South Antrim 908 1,044 136 
			 South Down 1,382 1,312 -70 
			 Strangford 1,203 1,143 -60 
			 Upper Bann 1,096 1,193 97 
			 West Tyrone 1,828 1,914 86

Decommissioning

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what amount of arms has been decommissioned by Loyalist paramilitaries in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: In December 1998, the LVF decommissioned what the IICD described as a small but significant" quantity of arms. Since then, the IICD has not reported any decommissioning by Loyalist groups.

Employment (East Londonderry)

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the change in numbers of (a) males and (b) females in part-time employment in East Londonderry constituency has been in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: Estimates of the number of employee jobs below Northern Ireland level are only available from the Census of Employment on a biennial basis and the most up to date figures relate to September 2003. Estimates of the number of part-time e in the East Londonderry parliamentary constituency area for September 1999, September 2001 and September 2003 can be so presents the change in the number of male and female part-time employee jobs between each census.
	
		Number of part-time employee jobs split by male and female in the East Londonderry parliamentary constituency area for September 1999, September 2001 and September 2003 and the change between censuses
		
			  (a) Male part-time employee jobs (b) Female part- time employee jobs 
		
		
			 September 1999 2,118 7,008 
			 September 2001 2,263 7,494 
			 September 2003 2,501 8,002 
			 Change:   
			 September 1999-September 2001 145 486 
			 Change:   
			 September 2001-September 2003 238 508 
		
	
	Source:
	Census of Employment, DETI

Food Safety Standards

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prosecutions there were in 2005 of establishments in Northern Ireland serving hot food in contravention of food safety standards.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested for the calendar year of 2005 is not yet available.
	The Food Standards Agency collects data on district council enforcement activities in relation to food hygiene on a financial yearly basis. The most recent available data relates to the period 1 April 2004–31 March 2005.
	During this period there were 10 restaurants and other catering premises in Northern Ireland prosecuted by district councils for food hygiene offences.
	District council returns for the period 1 April 2005–31 March 2006 are required to be submitted to the Food Standards Agency by 31 May 2006. Collated data on this period will be available after this date.

Olympic Games

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much financial support the Government will be providing for the special Olympics Ireland games taking place in Belfast in 2006.

David Hanson: Government are considering financial support to the special Olympic Ireland games taking place in Belfast in 2006 and discussions with the organisers about the details are continuing. A formal announcement will be issued on completion.

School Crossing Patrol Services

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) primary schools in Northern Ireland and (b) children attending them were affected by the decisions of education and library boards to withdraw school crossing patrol services within the past 12 months.

Angela Smith: Education and Library Boards have withdrawn school crossing patrols at 80 primary schools across Northern Ireland in the last 12 months. The decision to withdraw patrols is one that is taken very carefully, and only in cases where a review using the agreed local authority road safety officers' association guidelines has determined that underlying hazards have either declined significantly, or disappeared completely.
	It is not possible to provide information regarding the number of pupils affected by the withdrawal of the crossing patrols as not every pupil attending the schools will have been affected by the change. Some schools have more than one crossing patrol point, or indeed more than one entrance; in other cases, the crossing patrol was not located at the school gates. 44 of the patrols removed were lunchtime patrols which few pupils used.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Asylum Appeals

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps the Government are taking to reduce the time appellants wait for a hearing in the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal.

Bridget Prentice: The commencement of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) on 4 April 2005, together with changes to the lodging arrangements for asylum appeals, has had a significant impact on the time between the lodging of an asylum appeal and the service of the Immigration Judge's decision.
	Information for the period April to September 2005, indicates that asylum appeals, arising from a decision served on or after 4 April 2005, took on average 6 weeks from receipt of the appeal by the AIT to a decision by an Immigration Judge. This does not include the 28 days provided for the Home Office to serve the decision on the appellant and their representative in accordance with procedure rules.
	Additionally, the AIT is currently working closely with UKvisas and the Home Office to introduce further improvements to the entry clearance appeals process aiming to reduce the overall time an appellant waits from first application to their appeal being heard by an average of seven weeks.

Departmental Recruitment

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many job advertisements were placed by her Department (a) in total, (b) in print newspapers and magazines and (c) on a recruitment website in each year since 1997; and at what (i) total and (ii) average cost in each case.

Harriet Harman: My Department does not hold this information centrally and it is, therefore, not possible to collate this without incurring disproportionate costs.
	The Department ensures that job vacancies are advertised in a wide range of publications, including those targeted at minority communities where it is appropriate. Details of vacancies are placed on the Civil Service Recruitment Website, which was launched in December 2002 as the site of first choice for central Government recruitment. There is no advertising cost associated with this facility.

Electoral Registration

David Crausby: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the accuracy of the electoral register.

Harriet Harman: The joint Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee's March 2005 report Electoral Registration" included evidence on the accuracy of the electoral register.
	In December 2005, my Department made an assessment of electoral registration rates in London which estimated that some 550,000 eligible adults in London were not registered to vote.
	This assessment followed Electoral Commission's report Understanding Electoral Registration", published in September 2005, which estimated that around 3.5 million people in England and Wales were eligible to be on the register at their main residence but were missing from it in 2000.
	My Department is currently working with a number of partners to promote awareness of electoral registration in London where the issue of under-registration is most acute. The Department also considers the issue of the accuracy of electoral registers in relation to the development of policies to prevent and detect electoral fraud.

Inquests (Oxfordshire)

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many inquests on military fatalities are outstanding at Oxfordshire's coroner's court.

Harriet Harman: The Oxfordshire coroner has informed me that of the 103 military and other fatalities where bodies have been returned from Iraq since 2003, 30 inquests have been concluded, two cases have been transferred to other coroners, 11 inquests are due to be concluded within the next few weeks and in 60 cases a date for the inquest is yet to be fixed.

Magistrates Courts

Wayne David: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what account is taken of a tenderer's previous performance in the evaluation of tenders for provision of enforcement services to magistrates' courts.

Harriet Harman: Previous performance within similar contracts was taken account of at appropriate stages of the procurement exercise for enforcement services for HMCS. In particular it was a factor in the pre-qualification stage" in the evaluation process. At this stage those wishing to tender were evaluated against a number of factors to assess that they were a suitable and viable company, which could meet the needs of the specified requirement, and could therefore be invited to tender.

Parliamentary Questions

David Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many parliamentary questions tabled by in the last 12 months for answer by her on a named day (a) were transferred and (b) received a substantive answer (i) on the day named and (ii) after the day named.

Bridget Prentice: My Department aims to ensure that Members receive a substantive response to their named day question on the named day. From January 2005 to December 2005, my Department received 256 named day parliamentary questions of which 15 were transferred, 177 received a substantive answer on the day named and 64 were answered after the day named.

Parliamentary Questions

David Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many ordinary written parliamentary questions tabled for answer by her in the last 12 months have been answered (a) within 14 days, (b) between 14 and 28 days, (c) between 28 days and two months and (d) in excess of two months after the date of tabling; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: My Department endeavours to answer ordinary written questions within a working week of being tabled. From January 2005 to December 2005, my Department received 1,141 parliamentary questions of which (a) 1,104 were answered within 14 days (b) 37 were answered between 14 and 28 days (c) none between 28 days and two months and (d) none in excess of two months after the date of tabling.

Vandalism

David Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will list the acts of vandalism which have been perpetrated (a) inside and (b) on the outside of her Department's buildings in the last 12 months.

Harriet Harman: For DCA Headquarters buildings:
	(a) one internal incident, when a vending machine was dislodged from a wall; and
	(b) one external incident, when an individual threw paint against the entrance.
	For the courts estate, DCA's courts and tribunals reported a total of 18 incidents of damage to property in the period from 1 January to 31 March 2005:
	(a) internal incidents at: Llanelli county court (damage to furniture); Southwark Crown court (twice flooded toilets); Blackfriars Crown (damage to internal door); Birkenhead county court (sign ripped down); Swindon combined court (cell door damaged); and
	(b) external damage at Carmarthen county court (windows broken twice); Romford county court (crest removed from front); Chelmsford county court (car park barrier arm damaged); and eight incidents involving graffiti and minor damage at Loughborough Immigration Appellate Authority.
	Since April 2005, when Her Majesty's Courts Service was formed, it has had 85 reported acts of damage to property in the period to 31 December 2005. Detail is held locally, including the nature of the damage or cause, and whether incidents were internal or external. Obtaining such an analysis would involve disproportionate cost.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Assets

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the items valued at over £100 that have been reported as stolen from Scotland Office buildings in the past 12 months.

David Cairns: From 1 January to 31 December 2005, only one item was reported as stolen from any Scotland Office building.
	
		
			 Item description Value at date of loss (£) 
		
		
			 Multi-media projector 766 approximately

Departmental Assets

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the items of departmental property worth over £100 that have been reported as (a) lost and (b) broken in the last 12 months.

David Cairns: From 1 January to 31 December 2005, the Scotland Office had one item of property reported as lost with a value over £100.
	
		
			 Item Value at date of loss (£) 
		
		
			 BlackBerry 249 
		
	
	There have been no reports of broken items, with a value over £100.

Departmental Expenditure

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the annual expenditure on vehicles by his Department was in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06.

David Cairns: For details of expenditure on ministerial vehicles provided to the Office by the Government Car and Despatch Agency I refer the hon. Member to the letter of 20 December 2005 from the chief executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker). Copies of this letter are available in the Library.

Departmental Staff

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans his Department has to change the London allowance of its staff; and if he will make a statement.

David Cairns: The London pay allowance is automatically increased in line with the all-items retail price index each July.

Freedom of Information Act

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what total sum has been received by his Department for the provision of information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in its first year of operation.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office has not received any monies in relation to the provision of information under the Freedom of Information Act in its first year of operation.
	The Freedom of Information Act allows for public authorities to determine when the cost of processing a request will exceed the appropriate limit, which for central Government is set at £600 and for the wider public sector £450. In this instance the public authority may decide to either approach the applicant to help them refine their request and where possible to bring it under the appropriate limit. Alternatively, public authorities may charge the applicant the cost of processing the request. There is, however, no obligation for Departments to provide information if the cost of processing the request exceeds the appropriate limit.
	Public authorities may also charge for disbursements when handling requests where it is deemed appropriate. Further information on the FOI fees regime can be found on the DCA website at http://www.foi.gov.uk/feesguide.htm

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Administrative Costs

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the administrative costs were of each non-departmental public body for which he has responsibility in the last year for which figures are available; what the total of such costs was in that year; and whether the costs are regarded for the purposes of public expenditure statistical analyses as (a) identifiable and (b) non-identifiable.

Alan Johnson: The DTI is currently responsible for 31 executive non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), including eight regional development agencies and 8 research councils, 22 advisory NDPBs and eight tribunal NDPBs. Apart from the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), an executive NDPB, these NDPBs are not covered by the Treasury's administration budgets regime.
	For the year 2004–05 the administration costs of Acas were £49,048k. This expenditure is regarded as non-identifiable for the purposes of the public expenditure statistical analyses. Expenditure by the other NDPBs does not distinguish between administration costs and other costs in a comparable manner. Expenditure by such bodies is a mixture of identifiable and non-identifiable, depending on the nature and purpose of the particular body.
	Further information on the DTIs NDPBs, including details of Government funding and expenditure by the Department, can be found in Public Bodies 2005, a copy of which is in the Libraries of the House, and which is available online at:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/the_future_of_the_civil_service/ag encies_and_public_bodies/publications/pdf/public-bodies/publicb odies2005.pdf.

Centre for Ecology and Hydrology

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his plans for the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.

Barry Gardiner: NERC's science budget allocation has doubled since 1997 to £334 million for this year, demonstrating our commitment to maintaining the quality of environmental research in the UK. NERC is currently consulting widely with stakeholders and staff on a proposed restructuring of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH). The aim of the proposal is to ensure the long-term sustainability of CEH and its continued capacity to contribute to environmental research in the UK into the future. These consultations close on 15 February 2006. I am sure that NERC Council will consider carefully all evidence and views on the potential impact of the proposals.
	If, following consultation, NERC decides to proceed with the restructuring, the costs would be met from NERC's science budget allocation, and the Department has indicated that it would be willing to increase NERC's allocation by up to £14.2 million over 2006–08 so as to support the delivery of its core programmes in these circumstances.

Civil Servants

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost of the enhanced early retirement scheme for civil servants in his Department and its agencies was in each year from 1997–98 to 2004–05; what the estimated cost is for each year from 2005–06 to 2007–08; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: The Department records total annual liabilities for all early departure schemes, including continuing costs of compensation payments and early severance payments that are not retirements. It does not keep separate records of the costs that relate specifically to enhanced early retirement schemes. This information for eight financial years could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The estimated cost of enhanced early retirement schemes in 2005–06 including flexible and compulsory early retirements and approved early retirement schemes (including the Insolvency Service) is £8.1 million. It is expected that the reduction of DTI staff by 1,010 civil servants will lead to cumulative savings of £37.20 million by 2007–08. This should offset the initial expenditure on the enhanced early retirement schemes.
	My Department may run early retirement schemes during future years to deal with areas where staff cannot be re-deployed by alternative means but currently has no firm plans to do so.
	DTPs agencies will be replying to the hon. Member directly.
	Letter from Dr. Jeff Llewellyn, dated 14 February 2006
	The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) to your question regarding what the cost of the enhanced early retirement scheme for civil servants in his Department and its agencies was in each year from 1997–98 to 2004–05; and what the estimated cost is for each year from 2005–06 to 2007–08.
	NWML has not run any enhanced early retirement schemes for the period 1997–98 to 2004–05, and is not currently considering such a scheme for the period 2005–06 to 2007–08.
	Letter from Claire Clancy, dated 14 February 2006
	I am responding to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on behalf of Companies House, which is an Executive Agency of the DTI.
	Companies House did not have an enhanced early retirement scheme from 1997 to 2005 therefore the cost is nil. We have budgeted for spend of £1.5m on voluntary early retirement in 2006/7. This is an estimated maximum figure and will depend on take-up, so is not the actual cost. We are not currently planning for any early retirement schemes in 2007/8.
	Letter from Ron Marchant, dated 14 February 2006
	I am responding to this parliamentary question, tabled on 19 January 2006, regarding what the cost of the enhanced early retirement scheme for civil servants in the Patent Office was in each year from 1997–98 to 2004–05 and what the estimated cost is for each year from 2005–06 to 2007–08.
	The total cost, on an accruals basis, of early retirements with enhanced terms (added years) for the Patent Office is:
	
		
			  Amount (£) 
		
		
			 2007–08 est 0 
			 2006–07 est 0 
			 2005–06 est 39,000 
			 2004–05 0 
			 2003–04 0 
			 2002–03 267,000 
			 2001–02 0 
			 2000–01 0 
			 1999–2000 101,000 
			 1998–99 0 
			 1997–98 0 
		
	
	Letter from Jeanne Spinks, dated 14 February 2006
	You asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the cost of the enhanced early retirement scheme for civil servants in his Department and its agencies was in each year from 1997–98 to 2004–05; and what the estimated cost is for each year from 2005–06 to 2007–08.
	The cost of the enhanced early retirement scheme for civil servants in the Employment Tribunals Service for the year 1999–2000 was £28,000. The estimated cost of this scheme for the year 2005–2006 is £26,000. However we are unable to provide an estimated cost for this scheme for future years because the Agency has no plans at present for any schemes.

Civil Service

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress his Department has made towards achieving targets to reduce the number of civil service posts set by the Independent Review of Public Sector Efficiency; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: As set out in the 2004 Independent Review of Public Sector Efficiency, DTI plans, by 2007–08, to achieve a total reduction of 1010 posts in core DTI and Regional Government Offices.
	Since 1 April 2004 core DTI numbers have decreased from 4179.7 'full-time equivalent' people to 3401.9 'full-time equivalent' people, a reduction of 777.8 as of 1 February 2006. The regional Government Offices have also reduced by 80 posts giving a total reduction of 857.8 against our target of 1010.
	DTI is confident that the 1010 target will be met early.

Companies House Register

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment the Government have made of the cost of removing home addresses from the Companies House register.

Barry Gardiner: holding answer 13 February 2006
	The estimated cost of removing each instance of an individual home address from the register of companies by Companies House is £40.00.
	Information held by Companies House is already in the public domain. For example, it is held by the large business information providing companies who take daily downloads of the information held by Companies House. This means that even if the records at Companies House could be expunged the information would still be available from other sources.

Company Law

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek to introduce legislation to require companies to publish details of their transfer pricing policies.

Alun Michael: Transfer pricing describes the charge or cost that is made when one company transfers or sells" a product to another company within the same group of companies (often in different countries). There are no Companies Act disclosure requirements; there are tax implications that are governed by guidelines and requirements.
	We have no plans to introduce legislation to require companies to publish details of their transfer pricing policies.

Departmental Contracts

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the value was of (a) public opinion research and (b) public relations contracts awarded by his Department in 2004–05 in (i) each (A) nation and (B) region of the UK and (ii) London.

Alan Johnson: (a) The Department does not centrally collect the information sought at the required level of detail and to provide it would entail disproportionate cost.
	(b) A comprehensive list of all projects is not held centrally. Information from the Central Office of Information shows that the following amounts were spent in 2004–05. These relate to contracts where the major element of work was for public relations.
	
		
			  Amount (£) 
		
		
			 Dispute resolution 68,405.05 
			 Renewable energy 516,490.60 
			 Best business practice 338,443.29 
			 Best practice 151,827.51

Departmental Expenditure

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total value is of (a) catering and (b) entertainment contracts let by his Department; and what value of such contracts has been let in each nation and region of the United Kingdom, including London.

Alan Johnson: Expenditure on catering services in financial year 2004–2005 for DTI's London Headquarters estate was approximately £1.1 million. Expenditure on entertaining and hospitality (excluding expenditure overseas) was a further £468,000.
	A breakdown of expenditure on a regional basis is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Deregulation

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of deregulation on productivity; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 19 January 2006
	A recent study by the OECD shows that lower levels of regulation have contributed to accelerated growth in the UK by stimulating business investment and promoting innovation and technological catch up. OECD data also shows that the UK is the second least restrictive OECD country, only marginally behind Australia, in terms of economic and administrative regulation.
	The Government have launched one of the most radical reform programmes in the world to ensure administrative and other burdens arising from regulations are minimised.

Directors (Minimum Age)

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will bring forward legislation under which the minimum age of directors for public limited companies will be at least 18 years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: At present, under company law, there is no minimum age for directors. The Company Law Reform Bill introduces a minimum age, 16, for a natural person to be a director of any company.

Energy Review 2000

Robert Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many stakeholder meetings he is holding for the Energy Review 2006; and to how many of these meetings he is inviting representatives of the energy efficiency industry.

Malcolm Wicks: During the course of the consultation, eight seminars are taking place across England, Wales and Scotland. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment will host a seminar on the Energy Review in Belfast. The seminar that took place in Birmingham on 31 January 2006 concentrated on Energy Efficiency.
	All the seminars involve a broad range of organisation. Invitees include representatives from unions; energy providers; energy generators; industry associations; network operators; non-governmental organisations with an interest in energy, environment, or fuel poverty issues; regulatory bodies; official advisory bodies to the Government; national, devolved, regional and local Government and Government Agencies; think tanks and academia. Clearly, energy efficiency cuts across many issues to do with energy, so organisations with an interest in energy efficiency are being invited to all the seminars.
	In addition to these seminars, my officials and I will be meeting a number of stakeholders individually or in small groups.

Equality Bill

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce proposals to extend the provisions of the Equality Bill to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: Northern Ireland has its own body of discrimination law, and its own Equality Commission and Human Rights Commission. The Equality Bill has already been extended to Northern Ireland to the extent necessary to ensure that there are no significant gaps in protection.

Gas Supplies

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of whether speculation is distorting the market for gas prices.

Malcolm Wicks: In spring 2005, the DTI commissioned a detailed report by Global Insight, an energy consultancy, on the operation of the UK gas forward markets. This is available at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/publications/policy/forward_gas_markets.pdf. The report concluded, among other things, that the UK gas forward market was a functional hedging and trading market, free from major distortions and market abuse, with efficient price-formation outside of short spike periods". However, the report also said that, whilst the market was functionally liquid, more could be done to boost confidence in it and encourage participation by banks, traders etc. The DTI and Ofgem have therefore been discussing with the Futures and Options Association (FOA) why there is not more participation in the forward market and whether there are any barriers to entry. Following a roundtable with some of its members on 6 December, the FOA has developed a programme of actions to try to improve liquidity.

Heating Oil

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to tackle the increase in the cost of heating oil; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government takes the problem of rising fuel prices and its targets on the eradication of fuel poverty very seriously. The provision of affordable warmth is a keystone of our energy policy, and one of the four goals set out in the Energy White Paper.
	Tackling fuel poverty is devolved. In Scotland the overall objective for fuel poverty is to ensure that, so far as reasonably practicable, people are not living in fuel poverty by November 2016. The central heating and warm deal programmes improve the energy efficiency of the housing stock for vulnerable people. So far the Scottish Executive has invested over £240 million in these programmes, putting in over 63,000 central heating systems and insulating over 223,000 homes.
	Increases in the cost of heating oil over the past year primarily reflect rises in the international price of crude oil. Through its presidencies of the G8, G7 and EU, the UK promoted international efforts to improve the functioning of the global oil market and tackle market inefficiencies that contribute to oil price volatility.
	Domestically, the Government's policy is not to intervene in commercial price setting because it believes that the consumer is best served by the operation of open competition between companies. The supply of domestic bulk liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is, however, subject to UK competition law under the Competition Act 1998 and is currently under investigation by the Competition Commission. Provisional findings are available at http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/inquiries/current/gas/, with the final report to be published in March.

Indian Financial Services Companies

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which five Indian companies in the UK with a presence in the financial services sector have the largest number of employees; and how many employees each has.

Ian Pearson: The Table below shows the latest available UK employee information from publicly available data from Companies House for Indian companies with a known UK subsidiary or a UK branch in the financial services sector.
	
		Indian companies with known UK presence in financialservices sector
		
			  Status Number of UK employees 
		
		
			 ICICI Bank UK Limited UK subsidiary 51 
			 J.B. Boda and Co. (UK) Limited UK subsidiary (13)— 
			 K.M. Dastur and Co Limited UK subsidiary 3 
			 First Global (UK) Ltd UK subsidiary 3 
			 Ridge Futures Limited UK subsidiary (13)— 
			 Bob (UK) Ltd UK subsidiary 4 
			 State Bank Of India UK branch (13)— 
			 Bank Of India UK branch (13)— 
			 Syndicate Bank UK branch 20 
			 The New India Assurance Co Ltd UK branch (13)— 
			 Life Insurance Corporation of India UK branch 15 
			 Bank of Baroda UK branch 60 
			 Cabara Bank UK branch (13)— 
		
	
	(13) Not available.
	Source:
	Companies House.

Migrant Workers from Poland

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures he is taking to ensure that migrant workers from Poland are protected under UK employment laws.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Legal migrant workers in the UK have the same employment rights and recourses as their indigenous equivalents.
	We are aware that migrant workers may face difficulties in understanding and asserting their rights. We have offered to work with the Governments of all the new member states, to prepare bi-lingual know before you go" leaflets giving advice on questions to ask before leaving the country and on legal protections offered to workers including agency workers.
	To date we have produced leaflets in partnership with the Polish and Lithuanian Governments, and are in discussions with other Governments. The two existing leaflets followed a similar leaflet we produced in partnership with the Portuguese Government, and benefited from input from the TUC, the CBI and other stakeholders. These leaflets have been distributed widely in both the workers' home country and the UK. In Poland, for example, they have been publicised on television and our embassy and the Polish authorities have worked hard to distribute them via job centres, recruitment fairs and other channels. The text of the leaflets is also available on the DTI website—http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/agency/migrant_workers.htm.

Post Offices

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of post offices that could be expected to close as a result of the possible loss of income arising from the ending of the contract for the Post Office card account in 2010.

Barry Gardiner: holding answer 13 February 2006
	The future size of the network will depend on many factors including the outcome of ongoing discussions between Post Office Ltd. and Department for Work and Pensions on what accounts, other than the Post Office card account, will be available after 2010.

Post Offices

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he plans to take to prevent the closure of post offices following the ending of the contract for the Post Office card account.

Barry Gardiner: The future of the network will depend on many factors including the outcome of ongoing discussions between Post Office Ltd. and Department for Work and Pensions on what accounts, other than the Post Office card account, will be available after 2010.

Regional Development Agencies

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether regional development agencies have a role in the regeneration of market towns.

Alun Michael: Yes. In April 2005, England's Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) took over responsibility from the Countryside Agency for delivery of rural economic and social regeneration policies, including responsibility for the regeneration of market towns. The RDAs work with local communities and businesses to deliver long term strategic investment plans that will sustain market towns as important rural service centres, geared to the particular needs and characteristics of each region.

Regional Development Agencies

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what responsibilities the regional development agencies have taken over from the Countryside Agency in the last two years.

Jim Knight: I have been asked to reply.
	As announced in Rural Strategy 2004, from 1 April 2005, Defra has devolved decision-making on delivery of economic and social regeneration policies to the Regional Development Agencies. This includes areas of activity such as those formerly covered by the Countryside Agency's Vital Villages and Market Towns programmes. The transfer of Countryside Agency funding aims to create an integrated rural funding programme and allow RDAs the flexibility to manage their own resources to meet their regional and Defra priorities. Additional resources from the Countryside Agency will also increase the RDAs expertise in innovation, countryside issues, research and rural development.
	This move to devolve funding to the regions through RDAs is part of Central Government's devolving decision-making agenda. RDAs, working in partnership, will decide how to spend their resources to meet national targets and address regional needs. However, Defra is confident that by devolving these responsibilities to the RDAs and increasing their resources, rural delivery will become more responsive to local priorities and better focused on areas and people that need it most.

Sunday Trading

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many organisations his Department considered to carry out the cost-benefit report into extending Sunday trading hours; which organisation was selected; what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of compiling the report; and what measures are in place to ensure that the report will be independent.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) invited several organisations to submit a proposal for the study. Indepen Consulting Ltd. was selected to carry out the study. The project fee is currently commercially sensitive information and the DTI is unable to release this figure. The contractor has declared no potential conflicts of interest and the DTI is satisfied that the study will be independent.

TRANSPORT

Bus Services

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what obligations bus companies have to consult local authorities on changes in their timetables and fares.

Karen Buck: Bus companies outside London are not required by law to consult on fare or timetable changes, but must give the traffic commissioner and all relevant local authorities at least 56 days notice of variations to timetables of registered local bus services. Timetables and fares for the London bus network are set by Transport for London.

Public Transport

Si�n Simon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve access to public transport for pensioners.

Karen Buck: From 1 April 2006 people 60 or over will be entitled to free off-peak bus travel within their local authority boundary or passenger Transport Executive area.
	We have also introduced regulations for trains and buses and coaches which require new vehicles to be accessible and so easier to use for older people.

Public Transport

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken to ensure greater access to public transport for people with disabilities and visual impairments.

Karen Buck: We are committed to providing an accessible public transport system. We have regulated to ensure that all new trains, buses and coaches are accessible to disabled people. We made provision in the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 to extend the right of access disabled people already have to other services to transport and to introduce other measures to improve accessibility.

Gatwick Express

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the Gatwick Express.

Derek Twigg: The concept of a fast frequent service between Gatwick and Victoria will remain. The Brighton main line route utilisation strategy, however, made clear the need to improve punctuality and to reduce overcrowding on this busy route. Detailed proposals about how we resolve this are now being evaluated by the Department in discussion with Network Rail.

Road Safety

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance has been issued on the use of variable message signs on motorways.

Stephen Ladyman: Variable message signs can be set by the Highways Agency's national traffic control centre and regional control centres and currently by police control offices.
	The messages which can be set on the signs and guidance on their use, are contained in operational documents.
	The Highways Agency has also produced a brochure to explain the background to, and use of variable message signs.

Road Network

Lynda Waltho: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress the Government have made on improving management of the road network.

Stephen Ladyman: Highways Agency traffic officers have begun patrolling motorways across the country to clear incidents and keep traffic flowing, and local highway authorities have now appointed traffic managers with new duties under the Traffic Management Act 2004. Trials of innovative new traffic management systems are in progress.

Road Building Programme

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the Government's road building programme.

Stephen Ladyman: We are making good progress in delivering our programme of major improvements to the strategic road network. Since 2001 we have completed 35 major trunk road and motorway schemes. 15 schemes are currently under construction and we plan to start construction work on a further 27 schemes by April 2008. In the three years to 200708 we plan to spend 1.9 billionn on major improvement schemes on the trunk road and motorway network.

Road Building Programme

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the Government's road building programme.

Stephen Ladyman: We are making good progress in delivering our programme of major improvements to the strategic road network. Since 2001 we have completed 35 major trunk road and motorway schemes 15 schemes are currently under construction and we plan to start construction work on a further 27 schemes by April 2008. In the three years to 200708 we plan to spend 1.9 billion on major improvement schemes on the trunk road and motorway network.

Great Western Franchise

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with First Group on the future of the Great Western franchise.

Derek Twigg: I met First Group on 30 January 2006, together with Network Rail, to discuss future plans to improve performance.

Road Pricing

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the Government's plans for road pricing.

Stephen Ladyman: We are working with local authorities and areas to develop road pricing schemes that tackle congestion. This will allow us to pilot technology for a national scheme in the longer term, and we would like to see the first pilot schemes up and running within the next five years.

Road Pricing

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the potential use of satellite navigation systems in charging for road use.

Stephen Ladyman: Satellite based road charging systems are already being used in other countries with some success. The potential for use here is being considered as part of our work in moving towards a national road pricing system.

Air Travel Fund

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funds are held within the Air Travel Organisers Licensing Air Travel Trust Fund; and whether he plans to increase the fund.

Karen Buck: The Air Travel Trust Fund (ATTF) is currently in deficit, with borrowings of 13.7 million.
	For some years the Government have been guaranteeing the overdraft that enables the fund to operate. We are taking the legislative opportunity of the Civil Aviation Bill, currently before Parliament, to transfer responsibility for the fund back to the market. The Civil Aviation Bill will give the Secretary of State the necessary powers to enable the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to make regulations requiring air travel organisers to contribute to the Air Travel Trust Fund (ATTF), thereby ensuring the continued financial protection of consumers purchasing package holidays in the event of the failure of a tour operator.

Aircraft Movements (Heathrow)

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average number of aircraft movements at Heathrow airport was during each hour between 7a.m. and 11p.m. in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Karen Buck: The following table shows the 2005 mean number of air transport movements at Heathrow airport each hour.
	
		
			  Time band Annual average number of air transport movements 
		
		
			 0700 to 0759 75 
			 0800 to 0859 75 
			 0900 to 0959 79 
			 1000 to 1059 80 
			 1100 to 1159 80 
			 1200 to 1259 80 
			 1300 to l359 78 
			 1400 to 1459 79 
			 1500 to 1559 80 
			 1600 to 1659 82 
			 1700 to 1759 82 
			 1800 to 1859 82 
			 1900 to 1959 80 
			 2000 to 2059 73 
			 2100 to 2159 55 
			 2200 to 2259 24 
		
	
	Source:
	Civil Aviation Authority

Aircraft Noise

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what definition of excessive noise his Department uses in documents relating to (a) the noise from aircraft and (b) other civil aviation matters;
	(2)  pursuant to his Department's consultation on night flying restrictions, how he plans to measure the effectiveness of the proposals to bear down on noise.

Karen Buck: We have stated in consulting on our proposals for night flying restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted that one of our broad aims is
	to strike a fair balance between the protection of local communities from excessive aircraft noise levels at night and the provision of air services at night where they are of benefit to the national, regional or local economy.
	The expression 'excessive noise' does not apply to a specific level of aircraft noise: what is excessive will vary according to locations and individuals.
	Based on research, the Government use various measurements of aircraft noise as indicators of disturbance or of potential annoyance, or as criteria for mitigation measures, including advice for land use planning purposes.
	'Bearing down' on night noise from aircraft arriving at or departing from Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted is expressed by the new proposed environmental and night noise abatement objectives for the airport on which we invited comments as part of the consultation on night flying restrictions.
	The final objectives will be announced as part of the decision on future night flying restrictions. The way in which their effect in practice will be assessed will depend on what the objectives are.

Buses

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what definition his Department uses of a (a) coach and (b) bus service; and what provisions relating to access for the disabled apply to each type of service.

Karen Buck: For the purposes of defining accessibility requirements, The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 define a 'bus' as a public service vehicle which is designed to carry both seated and standing passengers with a carrying capacity exceeding 22 passengers, in addition to the driver. A 'coach' has a similar definition, but is designed for the carriage of seated passengers only. These regulations have applied to new buses and coaches since 31 December 2000, used to operate local or scheduled services only.
	The Regulations are intended to enable passengers with a broad range of disabilities, including wheelchair users to board, alight and travel in safety and in reasonable comfort. They include requirements for a designated wheelchair position, appropriate wheelchair boarding device, low first step height, provision of suitable handrails, seat dimensions, visual contrasts marking specific features, and route and destination displays.

Buses

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of free bus travel on the existing arrangements for bus travel between (a) Northumberland and Tyne and Wear, (b) Durham and Tyne and Wear and (c) Northumberland and Durham.

Karen Buck: None. Cross-boundary concessionary travel is offered is at the discretion of the local authority based on their judgement of local needs and their overall financial priorities.

Condover Parish Council

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from Condover parish council; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highways Agency has received a number of communications from Condover parish council concerning the provision of a pedestrian crossing facility on the A49 Trunk Road in the village of Dorrington. Unfortunately, to date it has not been possible to find a solution that would satisfy relevant design and financial requirements but discussions are continuing with Shrewsbury and Atcham borough council in their capacity as local planning authority. The parish council will be kept informed of any developments.

Departmental Assets

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the items of departmental property worth over 100 that have been reported as (a) lost and (b) broken in the last 12 months.

Karen Buck: The requested information, where available, is as follows:
	
		
			  Description Quantity Average value per item DfT Organisational unit 
		
		
			 (a) Laptop 1 925 Vehicle Certification Agency 
			  Pager 2 117 Air Accident Investigation Branch 
			 (b) Camera 1 250 Marine Accident Investigation Branch 
		
	
	For the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and our HQ buildings (in respect of broken maintenance items) the data is not available in the required format and can be extracted only at disproportionate costs. The Highways Agency have also advised that no data is held on broken items.

Departmental Staff

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to change the London allowance of its staff; and if he will make a statement.

Karen Buck: Within the Department, the Driving Standards Agency retains a separate London Working Allowance based on those workplaces located within the M25. This will increase by 100 as at 1 April 2006. However, this will not apply to those staff working within the equivalent of the old Inner London weighting area (DSA Charles House Area Office)
	There are no further planned changes to the London Allowance, where paid.

Disabled Parking

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation to make it a fineable offence for a non-blue badge holder to park in designated disabled parking bays.

Karen Buck: It is already an offence under section 47 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to park a vehicle which is not displaying a blue badge in a designated disabled person's parking bay. The maximum fine on conviction is 1,000 and this applies in addition to whatever penalty may be imposed for the associated parking offence.

East Coast Main Line

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of capacity on the East Coast main line.

Derek Twigg: Capacity assessments for the national rail network are the responsibility of Network Rail. They have recently started work on a route utilisation strategy for the East Coast main line, and draft conclusions are expected later this year.

Emissions

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of total UK emissions he estimates will be provided by aviation in (a) 2030 and (b) 2050 (i) with and (ii) without allowance for radiative forcing calculated at 2.7.

Karen Buck: Emissions from international flights do not currently count in the national inventories of greenhouse gas emissions, there being no international agreement yet on ways of allocating such emissions. There is, therefore, no agreed definition for UK aviation. In order to provide illustrative figures we have previously provided data based on a number of assumptionsthat the UK takes responsibility for emissions from all departing flights, that all other sectors of the economy reduce their CO 2 emissions in line with the Energy White Paper goal. These figures do not take into account the impact of economic instruments like emissions trading.
	The Department for Transport provided an illustrative table showing the relative contribution of aviation to UK emissions to the Environmental Audit Committee (published on 7 June 2004 in Aviation: Sustainability and the Government Response, HC 623). On this basis, aviation would be responsible for 15.2 per cent. of UK CO 2 emissions in 2030 and 21.3 per cent. in 2050. Using a radiative forcing factor of 2.7, aviation would be responsible for 27.6 per cent. in 2030 and 34.3 per cent. in 2050 of the UK's contribution to global warming.
	The Air Transport White Paper sets out the Government's belief that the best way of ensuring aviation contributes towards the goal of climate stabilisation would be through a well-designed emissions trading regime, for which we are pressing at international and European level. We are working through the International Civil Aviation Organisation towards an international emissions trading scheme for aviationthis is consistent with the request to ICAO from the UN Climate Change Convention for action on aviation emissions. We are also pursuing the inclusion of aviation in the EU emissions trading scheme. The details of how a scheme would work in practice, like the overall cap and the distribution of allowances between member states will be subject to discussion with other member states' governments.

Fair Trade

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's policy is on the procurement of fair trade produce for consumption on its premises.

Karen Buck: I can confirm that our policy on catering is to source items from fair trade producers wherever possible within the boundaries set by the public procurement rules and value for money policies. In addition, as part of any tendering process for the supply of catering services to the Department, we specify that the contractor should take account and support the Department in our response to the relevant parts of the Government's Strategy for Sustainable Farming and FoodFacing the Future. This sets out the Government's aims and objectives for sustainability within the farming and food sectors, contributing to a better environment and healthy and prosperous communities.
	Products that are consistently purchased which typically relate to this ethos are fair trade bulk brew filter coffee and down to earth fair trade enveloped tea as part of our hospitality arrangements. These products are also made available in staff restaurants as well as fair trade sweets and chocolate, free range eggs and organic pasta.

Free Travel (Greater Manchester)

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with (a) bus operators in Greater Manchester and (b) Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive to ensure that any increase in demand caused by the introduction of free off-peak travel for pensioners is met.

Karen Buck: The Department set up a working group consisting of representatives from local authorities, the Passenger Transport Executives and the Confederation of Passenger Transport to advise on the overall implementation of the free local off-peak travel for those 60 and over and disabled people. There have been no specific discussions on Manchester.

Highways Agency (Litter)

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what obligations the Highways Agency is under to remove litter from motorway embankments and verges; and how often the agency has undertaken to remove litter from the (a) M60 and (b) M67 motorways in Denton and Reddish constituency in its cleansing programme.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highways Agency is obliged, by the Environmental Protection Act 1990, to remove litter from motorways, including the central reservations, verges, and embankments. This arrangement has regard to the nature and use of the highway, and the need to limit disruption to traffic. To comply with the Act, which specifies, through a supplementary Code of Practice, standards of cleanliness and response times, the Agency undertakes a regime of sweeping and litter picking on the M60 and M67 Motorways.
	Litter picking on the verges and embankments is undertaken at regular three-monthly intervals on both the M60 and M67. The offside lane and central reserve is routinely swept and litter picked every three months on the M60 and every two months oh the M67.
	The hard shoulders are swept every two months on the M60, and every three months on the M67. Where the Agency's daily routine inspections identify a particular problem, additional litter picking and sweeping is undertaken.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 7 December 2005, Official Report, column 1313W, on identity cards, whether he has finalised current best estimates of the cost of using the identity cards scheme to support the services which he oversees.

Karen Buck: The Department for Transport contributed to the Benefits Overview Document which was published by the Identity Cards Programme in June 2005. The Department has not yet finalised its estimates of the benefits or costs of using the ID Cards Scheme to support the services which it oversees. Officials from across the department are working with the Home Office ID Cards Programme to identify and quantify benefits and develop a realisation plan in line with the recommendation of the ministerial committee on ID Cards.

Motor Cycling (Disabled Badges)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he plans to introduce to ensure that disabled motorcyclists can display disabled badges without risking theft; and if he will make a statement.

Karen Buck: There are no plans to introduce specific measures.
	For motorcycles we advise that the badge should be exhibited in a conspicuous position on the vehicle so that the relevant details on the front are visible. The precise method of attaching and securing the badge is a matter for the badge holder to determine.

Motor Vehicles (Air Conditioning Emissions)

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact in the United Kingdom of the current draft regulations on emissions from air conditioning systems in motor vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The European Commission's proposal controlling greenhouse gas emissions from Mobile Air Conditioning systems has been analysed by an inter-departmental project team. The costs and benefits of the proposed legislation has been estimated and compared with other options. The proposal is estimated to save
	1417 Megatonnes CO 2 equivalent of greenhouse gas emissions in 200525. Estimated costs are in the range 1867 million per annum.
	The proposal was adopted by the European Parliament and Council on 31 January 2006 and has not yet been published in the Official Journal. Work has therefore not yet begun on drafting Regulations to implement this Directive in UK law. However the Directive is in essence a type approval standard applying to new vehicles only. It does not apply retrospectively, nor does the Department have any intention of adopting retrospective provisions in implementing UK Regulations. Further to DEFRA's consultation on the Commission's proposal, DfT will conduct a formal consultation exercise on implementing Regulations in due course.
	Article 6 of the Directive does prohibit retrofitting of air conditioning systems with high Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants to vehicles type approved on or after 1 January 2011. Such air conditioning systems may not be retrofitted to any vehicle from 1 January 2017. However the Directive does allow continued use of high GWP refrigerants for refilling air conditioning systems which originally used such gases. This ensures that air conditioning systems on existing vehicles may be maintained in working order without necessitating their replacement with systems designed to use lower GWP refrigerants.

Parking Fines

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes the Government have made to guidance to highways authorities on parking (a) spaces, (b) charges and (c) fines, since May 1997.

Karen Buck: Since May 1997 the Secretary of State has amended paragraphs 4.9 to 4.29 of Local Authority Circular 1/95Guidance on Decriminalised Parking Enforcement Outside Londonwhich deals with the parking charges and penalty charges set by local authorities. The Mayor for London is responsible for guidance to local authorities in London.

Parking Fines

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many appeals against parking penalty charge notices there were in each local authority in England in the last five years for which figures are available; and how many were successful.

Karen Buck: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 11 July 2005, Official Report, column 671W.

Parliamentary Questions

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many parliamentary questions tabled in the last 12 months for answer by him on a named day (a) were transferred and (b) received a substantive answer (i) on the day named and (ii) after the day named.

Karen Buck: My ministerial colleagues and I aim to ensure that hon. Members receive a substantive response to their named day question on the named day and to endeavour to answer ordinary written questions within a working week of being tabled.
	During the period 31 January 2005 to 31 January 2006, 657 named day parliamentary questions were tabled to the Department for Transport. Of those, 485 (74 per cent.) received a substantive answer on the day named and 172 (26 per cent.) received a substantive answer after the day named. A further 11 named day questions were transferred to another Government Department. The Department for Transport does not hold information on when those questions were answered.

Parliamentary Questions

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many ordinary written parliamentary questions tabled for answer by him in the last 12 months have been answered (a) within 14 days, (b) between 14 and 28 days, (c) between 28 days and two months and (d) in excess of two months after the date of tabling; and if he will make a statement.

Karen Buck: The information is not available in the format requested.
	As at 8 February, the Department for Transport had received 2,937 ordinary written parliamentary questions between the 31 January 2005 and the 31 January 2006. Of these, 2,370 (82 per cent.) were answered within five sitting days, 125 (4 per cent.) were answered one day late, 256 (9 per cent.) were answered between two and five days late, 85 (3 per cent.) were answered between six and 10 days late and 63 (2 per cent.) were answered 11+ days late. 38 (1 per cent.) are awaiting an answer.

Public Information

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent on the Department's public relations and information services in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Karen Buck: The Department spent the following amounts in each year since it was established on public relations, primarily to support our marketing activities for example the THINK! road safety campaign.
	
		
			
			  DFT (central) DFT (agencies) 
		
		
			 200203 496,004 302,250 
			 200304 357,146 503,788 
			 200405 438,210 373,328 
		
	
	Figures for all information services which range from call centres, websites, customer service centres to campaign hotlines can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Railways

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) regional train services, (b) long distance train services and (c) train services in London and the South East have been cancelled due to non-driver availability in each of the past five years; and how many passenger journeys have been affected.

Derek Twigg: The number of trains cancelled for reasons associated with train crew in the current financial year up to December 2005 is given as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 (a) Regional services 6,042 
			 (b) Long distance services 183 
			 (c) London and South East services 5,279 
		
	
	As a percentage of services due to have operated in each sector, this equates to:
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 (a) Regional services 0.30 
			 (b) Long distance services 0.08 
			 (c) London and South East services 0.21 
		
	
	The equivalent information for previous years, and information relating to the number of passengers affected by such cancellations is not held centrally.

Railways

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received from train operating companies on industrial disputes.

Derek Twigg: Although train operating companies (TOCs) have not made representations to the Secretary of State, the nature of the franchise agreement means that TOCs do talk to the franchise managers about potential industrial disputes. Currently the only TOC which is in discussion with their franchise manager in this way is Virgin Cross Country.

Railways

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make provision for additional capacity on the rail line linking Wellingborough to London.

Derek Twigg: The Department for Transport has recently begun detailed assessment and development work on the service definition for the new East Midlands franchise. The work will take account of the growth expected in the Wellingborough area as part of the Milton Keynes South Midlands growth area proposals. We expect to consult on the franchise specification this summer.

Railways

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made with the extension of the East London line; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Enabling works for Phase 1 of the extension, which will take the line to Dalston Junction in the North and Crystal Palace and East Croydon in the South, are currently under way. This includes work on 21 bridges along the Kingsland Viaduct in Hackney. The main works tender went out in December 2005 and a contract will be awarded in summer 2006, after which the main works on Phase 1 can begin.

Railways

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) reviewed that benchmarks the costs of rail services provision in the UK against other developed countries.

Derek Twigg: The Department has not commissioned specific work on benchmarking of costs of rail services provision against other developed countries. However other UK and international bodies, for example the Office of Rail Regulation, and the European Commission, have done so from time to time. The Department reviews the available material to inform policy development.

Railways

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had in the last 12 months with the Association of Train Operating Companies on the regulation of rail fares; when he expects to have further discussions on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Fares regulation is a contractual matter set out in the franchise agreement between the Department for Transport and each individual train operator. Discussions have been held with the Association of Train Operating Companies, in relation to simplified zonal fares for rail services in London, where co-operation between train companies will be necessary.

Railways

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to extend the Community Rail Strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The Community Rail Development Strategy was published by the Strategic Rail Authority in November 2004. Six lines have so far been designated as community rail lines: St. Erth to St. Ives, Liskeard to Looe, St. Budeaux Junction to Gunnislake, Watford Junction to St Albans, Guisborough Junction to Whitby and Barnsley to Huddersfield. Consultation has taken place to designate the lines from Grantham to Skegness and from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin, and we hope to consult shortly about a number of other lines. It remains our intention progressively to designate the lines listed in the Strategy and to continue to implement other elements of the Strategy.

Railways

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with rail operators concerning the impact on (a) rail freight services and (b) rail congestion on lines into and out of London Paddington of the Crossrail project; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: I recently consulted the rail industry on a policy paper describing the development of an access option for Crossrail services. This sets out the principles by which Crossrail will share the capacity with other traffic on the existing rail network.
	In parallel with work on the access option, a cross-industry timetabling working group oversees timetable testing that looks ahead to the start of Crossrail services.
	Additionally, a number of freight and other rail interests attend the Crossrail High Level Forum. There is also a forum just for railway stakeholders to discuss Crossrail issues. I chair both meetings. There are also regular and ad hoc official level meetings with the rail industry about Crossrail.

Railways

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the public subsidy paid to each constituent part of the railway in each year since 1992.

Derek Twigg: Details of public subsidy to the railway are set out in the Department's Annual Reports, copies of which are available in the House Library.

Railways

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what financial penalties are available when Network Rail fails to complete renewals on time.

Derek Twigg: Network Rail pays compensation to train operators where changes to train timetables are made as a result of Network Rail requiring access to the network to undertake renewals and other work. These provisions are contained within train operators' track access contracts. The amount of compensation payable relates in part to the duration of the period of disruption.
	If the renewals work overruns, further compensation is provided by Network Rail to train operators for unforeseen delays and cancellations to services.
	More generally, Network Rail must manage the network in accordance with its network licence. This is enforceable by the Office of Rail Regulation, which may impose a financial penalty in the event of a breach of a licence condition.

Railways

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether it is his policy to retain all operating rural railway lines.

Derek Twigg: There are no current proposals for closure of rural lines. The White Paper on The Future of Rail announced that the Government supported the better use of lightly used rural rail services. This is being taken forward through the Community Rail Development Strategy which aims to improve the usage and reduce costs of rural rail services.
	There are now a number of local community rail partnerships and early indications are they are having a positive impact.

Railways

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance his Department has issued to members of the public wishing to complain about (a) increases in fares and (b) the services provided by train operators; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Each train operator's passenger licence and station licence requires them to have an approved complaints handling procedure (CHP). Each operator's CHP commits them to displaying both their own contact details for comments and complaints, and the address for the Rail Passengers Council, recently renamed Passenger Focus, in each carriage on board every train, on posters at every station, and in their timetables and publications.

Railways

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he can take to ensure that the 20:03 Crewe to North Wales train leaves Crewe after the Euston to Liverpool train arrives at Crewe at 20:05.

Derek Twigg: Timetabling and connections are matters between Train Operating Companies and Network Rail who work together to optimise connections, taking into consideration the interests of passengers and the available capacity and pathing.

Roads

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ask the Highways Agency to carry out dry scrim testing on stone mastic asphalt.

Stephen Ladyman: As stone mastic asphalt is not used on motorways and trunk roads, it would be inappropriate for the Highways Agency to carry out dry SCRIM tests.
	For the thin surfaces used by the Highways Agency, the testing of dry skid resistance is undertaken by a pavement friction tester (PFT).

Roads

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of whether stone mastic asphalt surfaces have the same skid co-efficient as hot rolled asphalt.

Stephen Ladyman: Extensive research on the skid resistance of road surfacings over the last ten years has included measurements of both stone mastic asphalt and hot rolled asphalt. This has shown that provided the appropriate aggregate is used and the surface texture is adequate, the skid resistance of stone mastic asphalt falls within the expected range for typical hot rolled asphalt surfacing.

Roads

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of whether there has been a change in the incidence of accidents involving pedestrians on crossings where shellgrip is no longer used.

Stephen Ladyman: There have been no studies of accidents involving pedestrians in situations where shellgrip was once used and either not been replaced or where it has been replaced with a high friction surfacing of a different type.

Roads

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Highways Agency has tested chemical washing on new thin surface material road surfaces.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highways Agency has not tested chemical washing on new thin surface material road surfaces.

Roads

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Highways Agency on a bypass for Dorrington near Shrewsbury on the A49.

Stephen Ladyman: The Secretary of State has had no discussions with the Highways Agency on the A49 Dorrington bypass (near Shrewsbury) since the scheme was withdrawn from the Trunk Roads Programme in 1994.

Roads

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will meet the Highways Agency to discuss the merits of a pedestrian crossing in the village of Westbury near Shrewsbury;
	(2)  if he will visit the village of Westbury near Shrewsbury to address the safety of the road through the village.

Stephen Ladyman: As Westbury is not situated on the trunk road network, responsibility for the management of the road through the village rests with Shropshire county council as local highway authority, rather than the Highways Agency. The hon. Member should approach the county council about these issues.

Roads

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent on road (a) improvements and (b) modernisation in Shrewsbury and Atcham constituency in (i) 1997, (ii) 1999 and (iii) 2005.

Stephen Ladyman: The information summarised in the following table has been supplied from Shropshire county council. It summarises the county council's expenditure on highways and transport infrastructure in the Shrewsbury and Atcham district in the three financial years most closely corresponding to 1997, 1999 and 2005.
	
		Expenditure 000
		
			  199798 (actual) 19992000 (actual) 200506 (budget) 
		
		
			 Integrated Transport improvements and Local Safety Schemes 909 932 1,329 
			 Battlefield Link Road 584 0 0 
			 Sub total (Improvements) 1,493 932 1,329 
			 
			 Structural Maintenance of Roads 1,422 1,812 2,710 
			 Routine Maintenance of Roads 434 502 642 
			 Total 3,349 3,246 4,681 
		
	
	It is not possible to provide a breakdown of spending on trunk roads as this is neither allocated nor recorded on a county or parliamentary constituency basis.

Roads

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will meet representatives of Shrewsbury Friends of the Earth to discuss the proposal to build a north west relief road on the outskirts of Shrewsbury.

Stephen Ladyman: We have not received any detailed proposal from Shropshire county council for a relief road to the North West of Shrewsbury. I will consider written representations from stakeholders should I receive such a proposal.

Roads

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will direct the Highways Agency to install a sign for Shrewsbury on the M6 junction with the M54.

Stephen Ladyman: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 16 January 2006, Official Report, columns 9323W.

Roads

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will visit Shrewsbury to address the safety of the Dobbies roundabout at the junction of the A5 and A49.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highways Agency, which has responsibility for the A5 and A49 Trunk Roads, is fully aware of the difficulties at the Dobbies roundabout. An investigation currently being carried out is designed to identify measures to improve the operation of the roundabout, including any that would reduce traffic speeds. The results are due within the next two to three months.

Roads

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers exist to place a permanent stopping order on a road where the use of the road has changed; and if he will make a statement.

Karen Buck: holding answer 13 February 2006
	The Secretary of State has powers under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to authorise the permanent stopping up of a highway in England outside London to enable development to take place or to improve safety and/or traffic flow if it crosses or enters the route of a new or improved highway. In London, these powers are exercised by the London boroughs.
	The Secretary of State also has power under the Highways Act 1980 to permanently stop up a highway if he considers it necessary as part of the construction or improvement of a trunk road or a classified road.
	A magistrate has power under the Highways Act 1980 to stop up a highway that is unnecessary or can be diverted to improve for the public its capacity or convenience.
	These Acts provide all the powers necessary to carry out stopping up but the procedures involved are under review.

Speed Limits

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to issue draft guidance on rural speed limits.

Stephen Ladyman: Guidance on setting local speed limits, including those on rural roads, is currently contained in Circular Roads 1/93. The Department has consulted on draft updated guidance and this will be published shortly.

Toll Roads

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much income from toll roads his Department has received in each of the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department only receives income from one undertaking the Dartford-Thurrock river crossing. Income from tolls at other statutory tolled undertakings is retained by the operator.
	Prior to 1 April 2002 the concessionaire operating the Dartford-Thurrock river crossing retained all income.
	Gross toll income received at the crossing for the year to 31 March 2003 amounted to 69.34 million.
	Since the 1 April 2003 a road user charging scheme under the Transport Act 2000 has been in operation at the crossing. The gross income received is as follows:
	20030468.12 million (includes rental income and/or interest received)
	20040569.02 million (Includes rental income and/or interest received)
	20050658.32 million (un-audited figure for the period from 1 April 2005 to the 31 January 2006)

Travel Subsidies

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on subsidies for (a) rail and (b) bus travel in the Peterborough city council area in each of the last five years.

Karen Buck: Subsidies for the rail network are paid to Network Rail and to the various franchises which operate in a number of regions and cities. The Department does not collect figures showing rail subsidy to individual cities.
	Individual local authorities are responsible for their own decisions on spending on support for local bus services in their area. The majority of this expenditure is provided by local authorities from their revenue support grant allocations. Expenditure by Peterborough city council on support of bus services in each of the last five years is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Bus subsidy (000) 
		
		
			 200001 373 
			 200102 384 
			 200203 528 
			 200304 635 
			 200405 592 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures from administrative returns from the local authority. They include expenditure met from the Department's rural bus subsidy grant and bus challenge schemes.

Vehicle Air Conditioning Systems

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had, and with whom, on the draft regulations on emissions from air conditioning systems in motor vehicles; if he will ensure that changes to such regulations are not retrospective; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: I refer the right hon. Member to my answer given today [UIN 51284].

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Business Rates (Gloucestershire)

Steve Webb: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much was paid in business rates in South Gloucestershire in each year since 199697; and how much was received by South Gloucestershire council from the central rate pool.

Phil Woolas: The amounts South Gloucestershire collected in business rates and the amounts they received back from the central pool from 199798 to 200405 are tabled as follows. Unfortunately this information is not readily available for 199697.
	
		National non-domestic business rates (NNDR), South Gloucestershire
		
			  
			  Collected by the authority Received from the NNDR pool 
		
		
			 199798 44,601,072 52,753,236 
			 199899 59,678,585 55,416,657 
			 19992000 68,084,810 60,929,163 
			 200001 72,094,171 69,397,236 
			 200102 83,185,520 68,767,124 
			 200203 82,160,313 76,277,087 
			 200304 75,608,660 74,517,052 
			 200405 84,023,245 68,795,989

Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to enable low-income households to purchase carbon monoxide alarms.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Home Fire Risk Check Initiative established in October 2004, enables all English fire and rescue services to work up a dedicated programme of home fire risk checks combined with the installation of free 10-year battery operated smoke alarms in vulnerable homes. The funding may be used to install other protective devices such as specialist deaf smoke alarms, community link fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
	Carbon monoxide detectors are a useful back-up precaution, but they must not be regarded as a substitute for proper installation and maintenance of gas equipment. All householders are encouraged to install at least one smoke alarm and regularly maintain existing devices.

Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the percentage of households equipped with (a) carbon monoxide alarms and (b) fire alarms.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Information on the percentage of households equipped with carbon monoxide detectors is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Latest figures released on 31 January 2006, show that an estimated 80 per cent. of households in England are equipped with at least one working smoke alarm.

Departmental Information

Roger Gale: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much was spent on his Department's public relations and information services in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime minister was created on 29 May 2002 The spend on public relations and information services is tabled as follows:
	
		
			  Public relations Information services 
		
		
			 200203 247,000 30,000 
			 200304 99,000 30,000 
			 200405 160,000 55,000 
			 200506 112,000 41,000 
		
	
	The majority of this spend has been through the Central Office of Information to help promote fire safety in the home.

Firefighters

Keith Vaz: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many firefighters have been employed in (a) Leicester and (b) England in each year between 1997 and 2005.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of firefighters that have been employed in Leicester is not held centrally. However, the number of firefighters employed in Leicestershire fire and rescue service and England in each year between 1997 and 2005 is tabled as follows:
	
		
			  Leicestershire  England 
			  Wholetime firefighter Retained duty system firefighter Total Wholetime firefighter Retained duty system firefighter Total 
		
		
			 1997 484 228 712 32,033 13,016 45,049 
			 1998 486 235 721 31,855 12,847 44,702 
			 1999 488 222 710 31,918 13,022 44,940 
			 2000 495 223 718 31,616 13,021 44,637 
			 2001 494 236 730 31,597 13,097 44,694 
			 2002 476 225 701 31,592 13,013 44,605 
			 2003 478 218 696 31,614 13,044 44,658 
			 2004 476 218 694 31,856 13,015 44,871 
			 2005(14) 474 212 686 31,037 13,520 44,557 
		
	
	(14) Figures for 2005 are provisional
	The figures provided are a snapshot at 31 March each year
	Source:
	ODPM annual Returns

Firefighters

Keith Vaz: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many firefighters in (a) Leicester and (b) England retired on the grounds of ill-health in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of firefighters retiring on the grounds of ill-health in Leicester is not held centrally. However, the number of firefighters that retired on the grounds of ill-health in the Leicestershire fire and rescue service and England in each year is tabled as follows:
	
		
			  Leicestershire  England(15) 
			  Wholetime firefighter Retained duty system firefighter Total Wholetime firefighter Retained duty system firefighter Total 
		
		
			 19992000 4 0 4 557 68 625 
			 200001 3 1 4 578 69 647 
			 200102 6 0 6 570 60 630 
			 200203 8 1 9 545 42 587 
			 200304 2 0 2 485 46 531 
		
	
	(15) 200001 figures for West Sussex are not available
	Source:
	ODPM annual returns

Leisure Facilities

Keith Vaz: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the provision of leisure facilities by local authorities in (a) Leicester and (b) England.

Richard Caborn: I have been asked to reply.
	Specific information on the delivery of leisure services by local authorities is not centrally collated. However, information from the Leisure Data Base Company suggests that some 60 per cent. of public leisure facilities in England are managed in-house, 22 per cent. are provided through trusts and 18 per cent. by private contractors.
	The Audit Commission is currently undertaking a study into the different types of management arrangements available to local authorities for running their leisure services and how they approach the task of choosing the option best suited to local needs. This is expected to include a consideration of the potential implications of each of the options available.
	I will ensure a copy of the study is placed in the House Libraries once it is published.

University Students (Council Tax)

James McGovern: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the effect on revenue in each of the last three years of allowing students an exemption from council tax;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of university students who lived in households that were not their family home and who paid council tax in 200405.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Vandalism

David Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the acts of vandalism which have been perpetrated (a) inside and (b) on the outside of his Office's buildings in the last 12 months.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has had no recorded incidents of vandalism in the last 12 months.
	This answer does not include buildings occupied by Government offices, who carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Departmental Staff

Bob Spink: To ask the Leader of the House how many staff in his Office are paid on a performance-related basis.

Geoff Hoon: All staff in the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons are paid on a performance-related basis that includes a mixture of consolidated base pay awards and non-consolidated bonuses both of which are linked to individual performance and delivery.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with mine clearing in Afghanistan; and whether the UK troops being deployed to Afghanistan in the coming months will be involved in mine clearing.

Adam Ingram: DfID has provided support to mine clearance in Afghanistan over a number of years and takes the lead on larger-scale humanitarian decontamination operations. The following table shows the contributions covering the last three years.
	
		
			 
			  HALO Trust Mines Advisory Group (MAG) United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) 
		
		
			 200304   2,000,000 
			 200405 879,668 583,708  
			 200506 2,189,428  (16)175,000 
		
	
	(16) For coordination
	Information obtained from the 2005 Landmine Monitor report estimates that the area of landmine contamination has been reduced from 1,350 square kilometres to 715 square kilometres. In 2004, over 33 square kilometres of mined areas and nearly 70 square kilometres of battle areas were cleared, destroying over 5,000 antipersonnel mines, 500 antivehicle mines and 1 million other explosives. Significant decreases in new casualties from landmines, Unexploded Ordinance (UXO) and cluster munitions compared with 2003 were also reported.
	Teams from the UK Explosive Ordinance Disposal group will react to newly discovered minefields and UXO where there is a threat to coalition forces or their mission. In emergencies, civilian groups can request support from the UK EOD. UK forces co-ordinate with the UN, DfID and civilian contractors to ensure that the threat to local populations from minefields is minimised. This approach will continue as the UK presence increases, though the situation will be kept under review.

Afghanistan

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 24 January 2006, Official Report, columns 2829W, on Afghanistan, whether the breakdowns by severity of injuries sustained by service personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq are based on the same definitions; and if he will provide equivalent figures for each theatre of conflict where British troops are deployed.

John Reid: Standard definitions are used to describe the severity of injuries sustained in military service and these are applied consistently in all circumstances. I stated in my answer of 2 February 2006, Official Report, column 70405W, that the Ministry of Defence has pledged to provide regularly updated injury statistics for operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan and to publish these on the MOD website. Similar arrangements will apply in future to all major operational deployments overseas, once the system has been successfully introduced.

Ammunition Supplies

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  when he last met representatives of BAE Land Systems at the former Royal Ordnance site at Chorley to discuss ammunition supply;
	(2)  when he last met representatives of (a) BAE Systems and (b) trades unions to discuss the future of Chorley Royal Ordnance; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 13 February 2006
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not met with representatives of BAE Systems Land Systems at Chorley to discuss ammunition supply.

Ammunition Supplies

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the value of the contract for ammunition produced at Royal Ordnance Chorley was in each of the last five years.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 13 February 2006
	The Ministry of Defence contracts for the supply of general munitions with BAE Systems Land Systems under the terms of the Munitions Framework Partnering Agreement.
	Division of production between the company's various sites is a matter for BAE Systems Land Systems.

Ascension Island

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had with (a) the US Defense Department and (b) the US Air Force in the last 12 months on the use of the airfield on Ascension Island.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 13 February 2006
	There have been no discussions with the US Defense Department or the US Air Force in the last 12 months on the use of the airfield on Ascension Island. However, representatives from the Permanent Joint Headquarters met with the US Air Force Space Command at Peterson AFB Colorado Springs on 5 January 2006 to identify options for efficiencies through burden sharing of facilities on the Island, including those on the airfield.

Defence Vetting Agency

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Defence Vetting Agency carries out overseas checks when processing (a) security checks and (b) developed vetting.

Adam Ingram: The DVA carries out a range of checks appropriate to the level of clearance required and the circumstances and background of the subject to be vetted and this includes overseas checks where appropriate.

Departmental Staff

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department are paid on a performance-related basis.

Don Touhig: Based on the numbers of staff as at the end of January 2006, around 82,000 staff receive an annual consolidated pay rise based on satisfactory performance. This includes civilian staff covered by the main departmental pay deal, those working in trading funds and the senior civil service. These staff also have performance management arrangements in place from which they are eligible for non-consolidated awards. There are also civilian staff including police, fire, teachers and medical staff whose pay is linked to counterparts outside the Department which means their pay is determined by whatever system is in place for their analogous link.
	The armed forces also receive consolidated pay rise based on satisfactory performance but have not been included in the above figures.

Gulf War-related Illnesses

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest assessment of the (a) scale, (b) nature and (c) causes of Gulf War-related illnesses.

Don Touhig: Over 53,000 United Kingdom Servicemen and women deployed to the Gulf in 199091. We do not know how many UK Gulf veterans are ill or what illnesses they have reported because there is no single database, not least with respect to those who have left the armed forces whose current records the Department does not hold. However, at the end of September 2005, some 2,960 Gulf veterans were in receipt of a war disablement pension and 2,445 veterans had received a gratuity for disablements assessed at under 20 per cent. There will be some overlap between those figures, as some individuals will have received first a gratuity and then, if this disablement has become more severe, a pension. The awards will not necessarily relate to the individual's service in the Gulf and we would expect a substantial proportion to relate to non-Gulf service.
	In some cases veterans' illnesses are due to disorders which are unrelated to service. The majority will be musculo-skeletal conditions relating most commonly to injuries sustained in training, operations or fitness activities. Others are recognised medical conditions such as PTSD, where service links may again be accepted. A third group relates to multi-system, multi-organ, non-specific, medically unexplained symptoms and illnesses which epidemiological evidence shows are not specific to, but are more common among those who served in 199091.
	The pattern of ill health is not unique to UK Gulf veterans, and is repeated among 199091 Gulf veterans from the other coalition countries. Evidence so far suggests that this is unaffected by the specific experiences and exposures of the personnel concerned. Similar symptoms and illness are also reported among personnel who did not deploy. There is no consensus either in the US or the UK as to the causes of the non-specific conditions commonly covered by the umbrella term Gulf War Syndrome.

HELEN Laser

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 6 February 2006, Official Report, column 825W, on the HELEN laser, whether AWE has supplied (a) the Environment Agency and (b) the local planning authority with the required method statement detailing remediation requirements to minimise the impact on ground and surface waters as a result of the construction of the new ORION laser at Aldermaston.

John Reid: A site investigation undertaken as part of the planning process revealed that there is no requirement for any remediation and therefore no requirement for a method statement. The local planning authority agree with this analysis. The results of the site investigation have been provided to the Environment Agency.

HELEN Laser

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 6 February 2006, Official Report, column 825W, on the HELEN laser, what (a) construction work has already taken place and (b) has begun on the new ORION laser at Aldermaston.

John Reid: Construction work on the allocated site for the ORION laser facility has not commenced. The work currently ongoing is site clearance and enabling work only.

Iraq

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has held with (a) Ministers in his Department and (b) defence staff regarding proposals to withdraw troops from Iraq in the next 12 months.

John Reid: I meet regularly with Ministers and defence officials to discuss our commitments in Iraq and other operational theatres. As I have made clear to the House, any withdrawal of UK troops from Iraq will be conditions based and will not be driven by arbitrary timetables.

Iraq

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which dates (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have visited British soldiers injured in Iraq; and what locations were visited.

John Reid: I have visited British Service personnel who were wounded in Iraq on four occasions since May 2005. My predecessor visited on three occasions since the start of Operation Telic. Other Defence Ministers have made 13 visits between them. The detail of the visits is as follows:
	
		Secretary of State for Defence
		
			 Date Location of visit 
		
		
			 April 2003 Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM), Birmingham 
			 December 2003 Shaibah Field Hospital, Iraq 
			 June 2004 Shaibah 
			 May 2005 Shaibah 
			 December 2005 Shaibah 
			 January 2006 Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Headley Court 
			 January 2006 RCDM (in a private capacity as part of a wider official visit) 
		
	
	
		Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans
		
			 Date Location of visit 
		
		
			 February 2004 Chilwell Rehabilitation Centre 
			 March 2004 Shaibah 
			 March 2004 Cyprus 
			 October 2004 Joint HQ Medical Centre, Germany 
			 February 2005 RCDM 
			 September 2005 RCDM (in a private capacity as part of a wider official visit) 
		
	
	
		Minister for the Armed Forces
		
			 Date Location of visit 
		
		
			 May 2003 Shaibah 
			 October 2003 Shaibah 
			 March 2005 Shaibah 
			 June 2005 RCDM 
		
	
	
		Minister for Defence Procurement
		
			 Date Location of visit 
		
		
			 April 2004 Shaibah 
			 July 2005 Shaibah 
			 November 2005 RCDM

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has discussed with his counterparts in Arab nations the partial replacement of coalition troops in Iraq with their forces following the beginning of a reduction in British troop presence.

John Reid: Our aim is to put the Iraqis in charge of their own security, when the appropriate conditions have been met. We continue to encourage Arab nations to support the emerging democracy in Iraq, but not specifically for troop contributions.

Senior Officers

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) commodores and (b) admirals were on the active list in the Royal Navy in each year since 1997; and what the total strength of the Royal Navy was in each year.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 13 February 2006
	The numbers of Commodores/Brigadiers and Admirals/Generals on the Active List in the Royal Navy/Royal Marines each year since 1997 was:
	
		
			  Royal Navy Royal Marines 
			 As at April each year: Admirals Commodores Generals Brigadiers 
		
		
			 1997 40 (17) 1 (17) 
			 1998 40 (17) 1 (17) 
			 1999 40 (17) 2 (17) 
			 2000 40 (17) 3 10 
			 2001 40 (17) 4 4 
			 2002 40 7 4 7 
			 2003 40 10 4 8 
			 2004 40 40 4 7 
			 2005 50 50 4 7 
		
	
	(17) Brigadier/Commodores were not included as substantive ranks in the RN/RM Active list at these times.
	The total strength of the Royal Naval Services (RN/RM) each year since 1997, showing the Admirals/Commodores and equivalents included on the strength, was:
	
		
			  Adm/Gen Cdre/Brig Trained Strength Untrained Strength Total Strength 
		
		
			 April 1997 40 80 41,680 3,470 45,150 
			 April 1998 40 90 40,360 4,110 44,470 
			 April 1999 40 100 39,070 4,630 43,700 
			 April 2000 40 90 38,540 4,310 42,850 
			 April 2001 40 90 38,020 4,400 42,420 
			 April 2002 40 90 36,770 4,860 41,630 
			 April 2003 40 90 36,590 4,960 41,550 
			 April 2004 40 90 36,380 4,500 40,880 
			 April 2005 50 80 35,420 4,520 39,940 
			 December 2005 50 80 34,860 4,560 39,430 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The Admiral/Commodore strengths above include Medical Officers and the Chaplain of the Fleet, who are not included on the Active List.
	2. The Active List figures includes some 4-star Admirals (between 711 over the period) who have retired and are not included in the regular strengths.
	3. Commodore/Brigadiers strengths include those who were classed as Commodores even before this was considered a separate substantive rank.
	4. Regular Strengths exclude Full Time Reserve Service and Mobilised Reservist.
	5. Admirals includes Rear Admirals and Vice Admirals, Generals includes Major Generals and Lieutenant Generals.
	6. All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 except for figures under 10. Figures ending in 5 have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20.

Senior Officers

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what trends he has identified in the numbers of senior officers appointed to each of the services since 1997, as a proportion of the overall size of each service.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 13 February 2006
	The number of personnel promoted to ranks equivalent to NATO rank OF-7 and above (which equates to rear admirals, major generals and air vice marshals), the average strength of each service and the promotions as a proportion of average strength, in each financial year 199697 to 200405, are shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Number of promotions to: 199697 199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Naval Service  
			 OF-7 and above(18) 8 10 12 13 8 11 12 9 20 
			 Average strength(19) 46,320 44,660 44,010 43,260 42,550 41,840 41,420 41,180 40,360 
			 Promotions as a proportion of average strength (percentage) 0.02 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.05 
			 Army  
			 OF-7 and above(18) 17 11 14 13 13 9 20 10 20 
			 Average strength(19) 108,530 109,300 109,800 109,890 109,290 109,290 110,680 112,550 111,040 
			 Promotions as a proportion of average strength (percentage) 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.02 
			 RAF  
			 OF-7 and above(18) 6 12 17 7 11 9 11 16 11 
			 Average strength(19) 61,910 56,340 55,510 54,930 54,230 53,270 52,950 53,240 52,710 
			 Promotions as a proportion of average strength (percentage) 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.03 0.02 
		
	
	(18) For the purpose of this question, senior officers are considered to be those equivalent to NATO rank OF-7 and above. This is consistent with the coverage of the Senior Salaries Review Body.
	(19) Average strength is calculated as a 13 month centred average of the strength in the individual months.
	Notes:
	1. Figures are for UK regular forces (including both trained and untrained personnel) and therefore exclude Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service personnel, the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment, Mobilised Reservists and Naval Activated Reservists.
	2. Figures less than 100 have been left unrounded so as not to obscure the data.
	3. Percentages are calculated from unrounded figures.
	4. When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in 5 have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.
	5. The table shows the number of promotions in a given financial year.
	Source: DASA (Tri-Service)

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Staff

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans her Department has to change the London allowance of its staff; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not pay a London allowance and has no plans to introduce one. All of the Department's staff are based in central London.

Departmental Staff

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many of her Department's staff are paid on a performance-related basis.

David Lammy: All permanent staff employed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are paid on a performance-related basis.

Engagements

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will visit Shrewsbury to open the new caravan centre there.

James Purnell: Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State nor I have any plans to visit Shrewsbury to open the new caravan centre. I will be pleased to consider an invitation to do so in the future, should circumstances permit.

Football Foundation

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what schemes have been financed by the Football Foundation in (a) Leicestershire and (b) Loughborough constituency area since it was established.

Richard Caborn: The Loughborough constituency has received 13 junior kit vouchers worth 5,200 as well as a Barclays Spaces for Sport Coaching pack worth 750. Further applications to the foundation's capital projects, small grants scheme, junior kit and stand up speak up scheme are currently under consideration with a total project cost of 333,930.
	Leicestershire itself has received 3,119,834 of foundation funds towards 96 projects with a total value of 9,026,748. A further 1,311,944 worth of projects are now under consideration.

Licensing

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many appeals under the Licensing Act 2003 (a) have been lodged with local authorities since 24 November 2005, (b) have been determined and (c) are outstanding; and what the estimated cost is to the courts system of determining such appeals.

James Purnell: The Government are monitoring the pattern of appeals, in particular with the 10 Scrutiny Councils, but we do not currently hold information on the number and cost of appeals across all licensing authorities.

Licensing

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with (a) the Department of Health on the possible effects of the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003 on requirements for (i) staffing and (ii) funding for accident and emergency departments and (b) the Home Office regarding the implications of that Act for the cost of policing late night drinking in town and city centres.

James Purnell: The Licensing Act 2003 was subject to consultation and agreement across Government, including the Department of Health and the Home Office. Licensing reform is part of the Government's Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy which considered the cost of alcohol harm to public services, including health and the police.
	On the specific impact of the implementation of Licensing Act 2003, the Government believes that the removal of artificially fixed closing times will encourage a more orderly and gradual dispersal of customers which, together with the tough new powers for the police, should help reduce the level of violent crime which the police and accident and emergency departments are required to deal with.

Local Authority Leisure Facilities

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the effect of the transfer of leisure facilities from local authority control to sports trusts on their ability to access capital for the improvement of their facilities.

Richard Caborn: Specific information on the transfer of ownership of leisure centres from local authorities to newly-formed charitable trusts is not centrally collated. However, information from the Leisure Data Base Company suggests that approximately one-fifth of public leisure facilities in England are provided through trusts.
	My Department recognises the importance of this issue in ensuring the continued sustainability of publicly provided sports facilities. The Audit Commission is currently undertaking a study into the different types of management arrangements available to local authorities for running these services and how they approach the task of choosing the option best suited to local needs. This is expected to include a consideration of the potential implications of each of these options, including for charitable trusts.
	I will ensure a copy of the study is placed in the House Libraries once it is published.

National Sports Foundation

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport where the National Sports Foundation will be based.

Richard Caborn: The National Sports Foundation (NSF) will be based at Sport England's offices and will use their existing administrative systems for the processing of applications. The NSF will however have a distinct identity and its own website.

Sport (Drug Testing)

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many drug tests have been carried out by UK Sport on members of the British 2006 Winter Olympics team in the 12 months prior to the Turin games.

Richard Caborn: There were 52 tests carried out on the 40 members of the British Winter Olympic squad in the 12 months leading up to the 2006 Turin Winter Olympic Games.

Sport (Drug Testing)

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many drug tests were undertaken by UK Sport in 200405; how many prime facie adverse findings there were for (a) male and (b) female sports people in 200405; and how many findings were of performance-enhancing drugs.

Richard Caborn: The UK's national anti-doping organisation, UK Sport, undertook a total of 6,520 anti-doping tests in 200405. Of these, 60 male athletes and one female athlete were found to have committed anti-doping infringements. In the same period there were a total of 57 findings for performance-enhancing drugs and four infringements for missed tests.

Television Licences

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people over 75 are in receipt of free television licences in each Northern Ireland constituency; and what percentage of viewing households in each constituency the figure represents.

James Purnell: TV Licensing, who administer free television licences for people aged 75 or over as agents for the BBC, are not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, the estimated number of benefit units claiming the retirement pension in each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland, where at least one person is aged 75 years or over, and the percentage this represents of all households in the constituency, is:
	
		
			  Constituency Retirement pension benefit units with at least one person aged 75 or over(20) Percentage of total households in constituency(21) 
		
		
			 Belfast East 5,802 16.7 
			 Belfast North 5,227 14.4 
			 Belfast South 5,004 12.6 
			 Belfast West 3,610 11.6 
			 East Antrim 4,016 12.2 
			 East Londonderry 3,956 12.3 
			 Fermanagh and South Tyrone 4,046 12.6 
			 Foyle 3,476 9.7 
			 Lagan Valley 4,796 12.5 
			 Mid Ulster 3,541 12.5 
			 Newry and Armagh 4,370 12.7 
			 North Antrim 5,265 14.0 
			 North Down 5,503 15.8 
			 South Antrim 4,038 11.0 
			 South Down 4,772 13.4 
			 Strangford 4,713 12.4 
			 Upper Bann 4,468 11.6 
			 West Tyrone 3,523 12.1 
			 Missing postcode* 1,199  
		
	
	* In producing this analysis, individual records were attributed to parliamentary constituencies (PC's) on the basis of their postcode. Not all records can be correctly allocated to a PC using this method, and some cannot be allocated at all. Past investigation has demonstrated that mis-allocations and non-allocations do not necessarily occur randomly between areas, and at ward level the proportion of records mis-allocated or unallocated can be substantial. At present, it seems likely that a higher than average proportion of the records that cannot be attributed to a ward are in the following areas: Fermanagh district council, Deny district council and parts of Belfast city council.
	Sources:
	(20) Department for Social Development. Figures taken from Retirement Pension scan dated 5 November 2005.
	(21) Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency Census 2001 Output Key Statistics.

Television Licences

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many pensioners over 75 years of age in Tamworth constituency are in receipt of a free television licence.

James Purnell: TV Licensing, who administer free television licences for people aged 75 or over as agents for the BBC, are not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, the number of households with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in the Tamworth constituency in 200405 was 4,005, according to Department for Work and Pensions records.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with each of Afghanistan's neighbouring countries on (a) blocking of supply routes for and (b) confiscation of opium; and what the results were of those discussions.

Kim Howells: Regular discussions on counter narcotics (CN) issues take place between the UK and Afghanistan's neighbouring countries. The aim of these meetings is to work towards improving the capacity of the latter to interdict drugs entering their countries from Afghanistan. These discussions take place in bilateral, multilateral and regional frameworks. There are also a series of inter-regional meetings between Afghanistan and her neighbours to foster CN information and intelligence exchange.
	Results of these discussions are encouraging. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report that seizure rates of opiates in the countries surrounding Afghanistan has increased reflecting improved enforcement activities in the region. Much of this can be attributed to the regular dialogue to improve information/intelligence sharing and donor assistance to strengthen Afghanistan's neighbours borders. The UNODC World Drug Report 2005 reports the countries with the largest total opiates seizures for 2003 (latest available published figures) were Pakistan (34.7 mt) and Iran (26.1 mt)-equivalent to 31 per cent. and 24 per cent. of global opiate seizures respectively.

Afghanistan

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what his estimate is of the (a) farm gate value and (b) export value of opium production in (i) Nimrooz, (ii) Farah, (iii) Ghor, (iv) Oruzgan, (v) Kandahar and (vi) Helmand provinces in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what his estimate is of (a) the area of poppy fields and (b) the level of opium production in (i) Nimrooz, (ii) Farah, (iii) Ghor, (iv) Oruzgan, (v) Kandahar and (vi) Helmand provinces in each of the last five years.

Kim Howells: We have made no such assessment. However, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) publishes information relating to the global illicit cultivation of opium poppy and the production of opium and heroin in its annual Afghanistan Opium Survey. Full details can be found on their website at:
	http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/crop_monitoring.html#afg.

Afghanistan

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he is taking to prevent (a) corruption and (b) infiltration by militants among (i) police and (ii) provincial politicians in Helmand.

Kim Howells: Tackling corruption across Afghanistan was recognised as a major challenge by delegations attending the London Conference on Afghanistan from 31 January1 February. It features prominently in the Afghanistan Compact, the framework document setting out the agreed priorities for Afghanistan's long-term reconstruction. The Afghan Government is committed to ratifying the UN Convention against Corruption by end 2006, and to put in place the necessary supporting legislation by end 2007. This will benefit all of Afghanistan.
	In this context, the focus of our effort in Helmand will be to build institutional capacity in governance and to reduce the corrosive influence of the drugs trade. We will provide support to the Governor of Helmand training and mentoring for the police and judicial authorities and advice and mentoring for the counter-narcotics police. The task of securing against infiltration by militants will be achieved both by the training and support provided to the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, and by the presence of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence's statement of 26 January 2006, Official Report, column 1529, announced the UK's contribution.

Ascension Island

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the UK's estimated contingent liabilities attributable to Ascension Island are; what the liabilities were estimated to be in 1999; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: We do not seek to place a precise monetary value on the contingent liabilities that the UK faces due to its relationship with the Overseas Territories. We recognise, however, that liabilities exist in a wide variety of areas including maritime safety and security, aviation safety and security, natural disasters, judicial matters, international financial services and domestic financial issues.
	We do not consider that the UK's contingent liabilities due to its relationship with Ascension Island have changed materially since 1999 as the relationship has not changed.

Cuba

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list meetings in (a) the UK, (b) USA and (c) elsewhere that have taken place between (i) Ministers and (ii) officials of his Department with (A) Caleb McCarry and (B) officials of the Cuba Transition programme within the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Caleb McCarry was appointed as the Cuba Transition Co-ordinator in July 2005 following the recommendations of the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba. The Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba consists of senior US politicians, not officials. Ministers have met with many of these politicians over the past 12 months, but not in their capacity as members of the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba. In the last 12 months, Ministers have not met with Caleb McCarry and officials have met with him only once in London on 7 November 2005.

Cyprus

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Cyprus.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's answer to the House on 7 February 2006, Official Report, columns 73336.

Departmental Staff

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his Department has to change the London allowance of its staff; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: None.

EU Sugar Regime

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the effects of reform of the EU sugar regime on African, Caribbean and Pacific sugar producers.

Douglas Alexander: The Governments of sugar producing countries have made their concerns about the effect of the EU sugar reform clear. Specific representations were made to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary during his visit to Jamaica in October 2005 and to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November 2005.

EU Sugar Regime

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with other Government Departments on help to African, Caribbean and Pacific countries to mitigate the effect on jobs of reform of the EU sugar regime.

Douglas Alexander: Officials from the relevant Government Departments, including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs, the Department for International Development (DFID) and Her Majesty's Treasury, have met frequently under Cabinet Office coordination in recent months to discuss ways of helping African, Caribbean and Pacific sugar producers adjust to the reform of the EU sugar regime, and to secure the support of the European Commission and other member states for an adequate level of assistance. The subject has also been discussed in meetings between the Parliamentary Under-Secretaries at the FCO and DFID.

Falkland Islands

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total oil production in the Falkland Islands was in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2005.

Douglas Alexander: No oil was produced in the Falkland Islands in 2001, 2002 and 2005.

Foreign Travel (Health and Safety)

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK citizens have (a) died and (b) been seriously injured as a result of crowd action or stampedes surrounding the annual Hajj to Saudi Arabia in each of the last 20 years.

Kim Howells: We are unable to provide definitive figures for the number of British Nationals killed as a result of crowd action or stampedes at the Hajj in the last 20 years as our consular records do not list deaths by this category. Generally, we also only have records of those cases in which consular assistance has been sought and only keep these for three years after our last action on the case. We are aware, however, of three British Nationals who died as a result of the stampede at Mina on 11 January 2006. Consular staff in Jeddah and in London provided the families of the three with assistance, and were also aware of a further two British Nationals who suffered minor injuries.

Gibraltar

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the precise location is of the wreck of HMS Sussex off the coast of Gibraltar; and whether this site is in international waters.

Douglas Alexander: The wreck, which we believe could be The Sussex, lies in the Straits of Gibraltar. We cannot give exact details of its location due to concerns about the security of the wreck, but it lies outside British Gibraltar territorial waters in international waters.

Gibraltar

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the British Government have not claimed the 12 nautical miles on the eastern shoreline of Gibraltar to which it is entitled under the UN law of the sea convention.

Douglas Alexander: Under international law, States are entitled, but not required, to extend their territorial sea up to a maximum breadth of 12 nautical miles. Where the coasts of two States are opposite or adjacent, the general rule is that neither is entitled, unless they agree otherwise, to extend its territorial sea beyond the median line. The UK Government considers that a limit of three nautical miles is sufficient in the case of Gibraltar.

Gulf of Aden (Trafficking)

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of (a) illegal trafficking of (i) arms, (ii) people and (iii) cigarettes across the Gulf of Aden and (b) the implications of trafficking on the funding of terrorism; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Gulf of Aden is used for illegal trafficking, but because of its clandestine nature it is impossible to make an accurate assessment of the scale of trafficking. The UK provides substantial support and training to the Yemeni coastguard to boost interdiction efforts.
	We do not have any evidence of a systematic link between illegal trafficking of arms, people and cigarettes across the Gulf of Aden and the funding of terrorism.

India

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the Government provides to religious freedom organisations in (a) Madhya Pradesh and (b) elsewhere in India.

Kim Howells: None. However, through our High Commission in Delhi we provide support to some human rights groups whose activities include support for freedom of religion.

India

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his Department has to meet representatives of the Indian government to discuss religious militant groups threatening Christian minorities.

Kim Howells: None. However, the Deputy High Commissioner plans to meet the Minorities Commission in New Delhi, when he will raise concerns about freedom of worship for all minorities. Through our High Commission we regularly raise such concerns with non-governmental organisations and the relevant Indian authorities.

India

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the (a) Indian government and (b) Madhya Pradesh State government on the attacks against minority Christians on 25 to 28 January in Madhya Pradesh.

Kim Howells: None. However, through our High Commission in New Delhi we have regular contact with the Indian authorities in New Delhi and with non-governmental organisations and raise our general concerns about problems experienced by religious minorities in India.

International Arrest Warrants

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have received from officials from other countries on changes in the law on seeking international warrants for the arrest of people suspected of serious human rights abuses; and if he will list the countries which have made such representations.

Ian Pearson: The Government are currently considering a range of issues relating to the issuing of arrest warrants in international cases, but has not yet concluded what changes, if any, are required to current legislation. Any proposals for amending the current legislation would be a matter for Parliament. The Government have received representations from the Government of Israel. All views expressed, by both Governments and non-governmental organisations, will be considered during the Government's analysis of this issue.

Iran

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of sites in Iran that the Iranian Government are using in the research, development and production of nuclear technologies.

Kim Howells: In its report of November 2004, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) identified 22 facilities at nine locations as being relevant to the implementation of Agency Safeguards. Under its voluntary implementation of the provisions of the additional protocol, Iran also declared a further four facilities at three additional locations.
	In connection with its voluntary suspension of enrichment-related activities, Iran also notified the IAEA of a number of engineering facilities involved in domestic manufacture of uranium enrichment centrifuge components. The IAEA has in addition sought access to sites at Lavisan-Shian and Parchin to establish whether any nuclear-related activities have taken place there.
	Further details can be found on the IAEA's website: www.iaea.org.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has received of Iranian infiltration into southern Iraq.

Kim Howells: As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has said, the nature of some explosive devices used in Iraq, including against British troops, leads us to suspect either Iranian elements or Lebanese Hezbollah. We are unable to provide further details as to do so could prejudice the capability, effectiveness, and security of the armed forces.

Kosovo

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library copies of the recent statements made by senior British officials in Serbia on Kosovo's independence.

Douglas Alexander: A copy of the Contact Group Ministerial statement of 31 January has already been placed in the Library of the House. John Sawers, Political Director in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, made a number of comments to the press during his recent visit to the region. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him today (UIN 51514). We do not hold formal transcripts of these.

Kosovo

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conclusions the Contact Group has reached on the question of Kosovan independence.

Douglas Alexander: On 31 January, in the margins of the Afghanistan Conference, the Contact Group met in London to discuss Kosovo. Following this meeting, Contact Group Ministers issued a statement, which has been placed in the Library of the House.
	The Contact Group in its 'Guiding Principles' ruled out options that would not contribute to long-term security and stability in Kosovo and the wider region. These included no partition of Kosovo and no union of Kosovo with any country or part of any country. These 'Guiding Principles' have also been placed in the Library of the House.

Middle East

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of the closure of the Karni crossing in the Gaza Strip on the Palestinian economy; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Karni crossing point between Israel and Gaza reopened on 5 February. The United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs estimates Palestinian losses at US$500,000 a day during the closure. It is essential for the Palestinian economy that crossing points in and out of Gaza remain open. We condemn recent attacks by Palestinian militants on the Karni and Erez checkpoints which can only hinder efforts to improve access to Gaza and the economic prospects of the area. We will continue to support the work of Quartet Special Envoy James Wolfensohn in helping to implement this agreement and urge both parties to fulfil their obligations under the Movement and Access Agreement.

Middle East

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions the Government have had with (a) Israel and (b) the Palestinian Authority on ensuring that it fulfils its obligations under the Road Map;
	(2)  what the (a) current status and (b) future direction are of the Israeli-Palestinian Road Map.

Kim Howells: Neither side has met its full Phase One commitments. As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary told the House on 7 February 2006, Official Report, column 735,
	we, along with our EU partners, will continue to work with the Palestinians, the Israelis and the international community to make progress on the road map, to which both the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Israeli Government remain committed.

Official Residences

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the official residences for which his Department is responsible; who occupies each one; what the annual cost is of running each property; what contribution the occupants of each make towards running costs; what the total capital and refurbishment expenditure was on those properties in 200405; how much was spent in each property on (a) flowers and plants, (b) wine and entertaining, (c) food, (d) telephone bills and (e) electricity and gas in 200405; how many (i) domestic and (ii) maintenance staff are employed at each property, broken down by post; and what the total cost of staff employment was in 200405.

Jack Straw: In the UK, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) maintains official residential accommodation and conference facilities at 1 Carlton Gardens, London. The running costs in 200405 for the residential accommodation, on the second and third floors and currently unoccupied, are as follows:
	
		
			  200405 () 
		
		
			 Maintenance 1,109 
			   
			 Renovation (Capital and refurbishment) Nil 
			   
			 Council Tax 1,089 
			   
			 Running costs  
			 Rent 54,772 
			 Utilities 735 
			   
			 Total 57,705 
		
	
	No maintenance or domestic staff are employed. There are no separate records available for expenditure on (a) flowers and plants, (b) wine and entertaining, (c) food, (d) telephone bills at this property but as the premises are currently unoccupied no expenditure on these items will have arisen apart from the phone rental.
	The separate conference facilities on the ground and first floor are used frequently for official meetings and entertainment.
	The FCO is also responsible for running Head of Missions' Residences overseas. The budgets for this are held at Posts; the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Overseas Territories

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with British overseas territories to establish how much support they gave to international development in 2005.

Douglas Alexander: My right. hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no discussions with the Governments of the British overseas territories regarding how much support they gave to international development in 2005.

Palestine

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 7 February 2006, Official Report, column 736, on Palestinian elections, whether it is Government policy that a Hamas-led Palestinian Authority which commits itself to the principle for non-violence will not receive financial assistance unless Hamas renounces its commitment to destroy the State of Israel.

Kim Howells: As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said at the Liaison Committee on 7 February
	'We have said we will not be able to have contact with an Hamas-led government unless it is clear that they are prepared to forswear that part of their constitution that says they want rid of the State of Israel and that they are prepared to embrace democratic and non violent means of achieving an independent, viable Palestinian state. If they do not make those changes that will stand in the way of us being able to help.'

Serbia and Montenegro

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Political Director discussed with representatives of the Serbian government acceptance of Kosovo's independence during his recent visit to Serbia.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 13 February 2006
	John Sawers, Political Director at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, met Prime Minister Kostunica of Serbia and other Serbian representatives on his trip to Belgrade. He also visited Kosovo. The purpose of these visits was to follow up the 31 January 2006 Contact Group Ministerial meeting.
	Mr. Sawers gave a number of messages to his interlocutors in line with the recommendations Martti Ahtisaari, the UN status envoy, gave to Ministers at the 31 January meeting. The messages Mr. Sawers gave in his private meetings in both Belgrade and Pristina were fully consistent with the Contact Group statement and the Guiding Principles, both of which have been placed in the Library of the House.
	The 31 January statement makes clear that the outcome of the final status should be acceptable to the people of Kosovo. In response to questions from the media, Mr. Sawers noted that independence for Kosovo was an option, and that some might say it was the only sustainable option. The legacy of the Milosevic era in Kosovoviolence, ethnic cleansing and the conflict in 1999had led to the present UN mandate, and the future status process would need to reflect this background. It was incumbent on the Kosovo Albanians to create the conditions under which their aspirations could be met. That meant arrangements in Kosovo that guaranteed minority rights, protected Serb historic and cultural monuments and allowed those displaced from Kosovo to return.

Trade Boycotts

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to try to end boycotts of Western goods in Islamic countries.

Kim Howells: Where there is evidence of an official boycott of goods and discrimination against an EU member state, we support action by the European Commission to resolve the issue. For example, at the 7 November 2005 General Affairs and External Relations Council, the European Union called on Iran to lift all discriminatory restrictions against individual member states, which could impact negatively on Iran's stated desire to pursue greater co-operation with the EU.

Uganda

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) the UN, (b) the African Union and (c) the Governments of African countries where the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) operates on how to take forward the aims of the International Criminal Court in relation to the LRA.

Ian Pearson: The aim of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in relation to the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) is to ensure that the five commanders with arrest warrants issued for them are detained and brought to The Hague to face trial. The UK supports the ICC's efforts to bring to justice the perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
	We have stressed to the Governments of Uganda, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) their obligations to detain the LRA commanders facing arrest warrants. We, and the ICC, are in close contact with the African Union and the UN. On 23 January 2006, the UN force in DRC (MONUC) demonstrated in its operation in Garamba National Park, that it is committed to tackling the LRA contingent based in DRC.

UK Overseas Territories

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the value was of the agricultural products imported by UK overseas territories in (a) 2000 and (b) 2005.

Douglas Alexander: The Government of the territory is responsible for the compilation of statistics of this kind and several of them have been unable to provide the information requested. The most up-to-date information available on the value of agricultural products imported by the UK overseas territories is as follows:
	
		
			  
			  2000 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Anguilla 7,649,470   12,572,036 
			 Bermuda 60,749,079   79,008,740 
			 British Antarctic Territory (22) (22) (22) (22) 
			 British Indian Ocean Territory (22) (22) (22) (22) 
			 British Virgin Islands (22) (22) (22) (22) 
			 Cayman Islands (22) (22) (22) (22) 
			 Falkland Islands 3,575,042 4,100,704   
			 Gibraltar 32,600,000  16,700,000  
			 Montserrat 19,823.00   3,447.00 
			 Pitcairn (22) (22) (22) (22) 
			 St. Helena (22) (22) (22) (22) 
			 Ascension Island (22) (22) (22) (22) 
			 Tristan da Cunha (22) (22) (22) (22) 
			 South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (22) (22) (22) (22) 
			 Sovereign Base Areas (Akrotiri and Dhekelia) (22) (22) (22) (22) 
			 Turks and Caicos Islands 14,588,275  18,693,089  
		
	
	(22) Detailed figures for the import of agricultural products are not available.
	Note:
	Beverages and spirits are included in the total amount for agricultural imports.

United Nations

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made towards a UN rapid reaction capability for traditional peace-keeping operations.

Kim Howells: The UN world summit in September 2005 supported and encouraged the development of rapid deployment arrangements in support of UN peacekeeping. In particular, it welcomed efforts by regional organisations such as the European Union and African Union to develop relevant capabilities.
	The UN Department of peacekeeping operations is currently considering three options to provide timely additional support to UN missions at times of crisis: provision of a rapid deployment capability by regional organisations; provision of a short-term capability by one or more individual countries; and providing co-operation arrangements between UN missions in the same region. The report recommends that all these options be considered in parallel.
	Progress has already been made on two of these recommendations. In the area of regional rapid reaction, the EU and UN are discussing how the EU battle groups could be used in appropriate circumstances in support of UN missions. The EU is currently considering a request from the UN to provide additional support to the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo during elections later this year. The African Union is also taking steps towards establishment of an African stand-by force, supported by the UK and other international partners.
	Progress is also being made on arrangements between UN missions. The Security Council has recently authorised the deployment of a force from the UN mission in Liberia (UNMIL) to support UN forces in Cote d' Ivoire in view of recent events there. Similarly UNMIL is providing a contingency force to support the UN forces providing security for the Sierra Leone special court, should the need arise.
	The UK is playing an active role in both the UN and EU in developing appropriate rapid reaction capabilities in support of UN peacekeeping operations.

United Nations

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in developing the UN standby arrangements system.

Jack Straw: The United Nations stand-by arrangements system (UNSAS) has been introduced by the UN to increase the availability of forces for peacekeeping operations, and to reduce the time taken for their deployment. The system is based on conditional commitments made by UN member states to make available specified military and other resources within agreed response times. The system has taken some time to bed down, but is now proving increasingly useful for the generation of force units and the provision of individuals, including military observers and staff officers, to peacekeeping operations.
	The UN Secretary-General recently reported that force generation for complex peacekeeping missions in Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire, Burundi and Haiti have shown that resources pledged are now more adequate to mission needs and that the declarations made by member states under the UNSAS arrangements are more realistic and up to date. However, getting member states to commit forces to rapid deployment as part of the UNSAS process has shown limited success. The UN's Department of peacekeeping operations is examining ways of making it more attractive for member states to commit to rapid deployments as part of UNSAS.

United Nations

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in developing the Multinational Stand-by Forces High Readiness Brigade for UN operations.

Jack Straw: The establishment of the multinational Stand-by Forces High Readiness Brigade in 1996 (SHIRBRIG) followed a recommendation from the UN Secretary General that UN member states should consider establishing a rapid deployment force to support UN peacekeeping operations. SHIRBRIG was established by Austria, Canada, Denmark, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Sweden. Fifteen countries now participate in the brigade, with a number of others taking part as observers.
	SHIRBRIG is available to take part in Security Council-mandated operations for a period of up to six months. It is able to provide an initial headquarters and planning capability as part of the start-up of an operation, or to deploy as a whole brigade as part of a UN peacekeeping operation.
	SHIRBRIG is made up of three elements: a Steering Committee which makes policy and oversees force generation and deployment; a Planning Element which serves as the nucleus for the force headquarters and plans for individual deployments; and a Brigade Pool of Forces consisting of the troops made available to SHIRBRIG by the participating countries. The Brigade aims to be able to deploy 4,0005,000 troops.
	Since its inception, SHIRBRIG has made the following deployments:
	In 2000, SHIRBRIG deployed a headquarters, an infantry battalion and a headquarters company to the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea.
	In March 2003, SHIRBRIG provided a planning team to assist the Economic Community of West African States in the planning of a peacekeeping mission in Co(r)te d'Ivoire.
	In September 2003, SHIRBRIG deployed 20 members to assist the UN to form the core of the Interim UN headquarters in Liberia.
	In 2005, SHIRBRIG's Planning Element provided the core for the Headquarters of the new UN Mission in Sudan.

Uranium Enrichment

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on which countries may legitimately operate uranium enrichment facilities.

Kim Howells: The nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) affirms the right of all parties, including non-nuclear weapon states (NNWS), to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Pursuit of peaceful nuclear technology by these states, including the more sensitive aspects of the fuel cycle such as enrichment of uranium, may be undertaken provided the state does so in conformity with articles I, II and III of the treaty. Article III of the treaty requires all NNWS states party to have International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards on such facilities in order to verify the fulfilment of the state's obligations under the NPT. The safeguards required under article III are to be applied to all nuclear material under the state's control.
	The three states not party to the NPT (India, Pakistan and Israel) are not bound by the provisions of the treaty.

Yemen

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the security situation in Yemen.

Kim Howells: We are concerned about the security situation in Yemen, in particular because of the recent escape of 23 al-Qaeda prisoners and also the spate of kidnappings of Western tourists in December 2005 and January. We judge that there is a continuing high threat from terrorism.
	I visited Yemen in January and emphasised to Government Ministers that determined action against terrorist threats was vital. The UK is providing practical Counter Terrorism support to Yemen.

Yemen

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the activities of (a) al-Qaeda and (b) Islamic fundamentalists in Yemen.

Kim Howells: We are aware that members of al-Qaeda and other similar groups continue to exist in Yemen and we monitor reports on their activities there. We maintain a wide-ranging dialogue with the Government of Yemen which includes security issues, in particular counter-terrorism (CT). We have an extensive programme of CT capacity-building with the Yemeni authorities; this includes training of the coastguard, as well as training in investigative techniques, forensic science and crime scene management. During my recent visit to Yemen, I expressed the hope that our CT relationship would continue to develop, with an enhanced two-way flow of co-operation.

Yemen

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether the Jawf and Mareb tribes in Yemen have contact with (a) al-Qaeda and (b) other Islamic fundamentalist groups; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Al-Jawf and Marib are regions of Yemen where members of al-Qaeda and related groups are known to have been present. It is possible that tribes living in these areas have offered funding and/or logistical assistance to members of such groups; this support may have been with or without tribal knowledge of the al-Qaeda background of the individuals concerned.

CABINET OFFICE

Government Information Technology

David Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on progress with development of the Government's IT strategy.

Jim Murphy: The Transformational Government strategy was published in November 2005 and was followed by a three-month (public) consultation period. Responses are being incorporated into an implementation plan that will be published by the end of this financial year.

Civil Service

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to increase the number of women in the senior civil service.

Jim Murphy: There have been significant increases in the proportion of women in senior posts since 1998: the civil service has met its target to double the proportion of women in top management posts, from 12.7 per cent. in 1998 to 25.5 per cent. in 2005.
	But there is still more work to do: we have set challenging new targets for 2008, underpinned by a Diversity 10 Point Plan.

Civil Service

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to be in a position to bring forward a Civil Service Bill.

Jim Murphy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I provided to the hon. Member for North East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) on 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 199W.

Civil Service

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent discussions he has had with other Departments on the pay of civil servants.

Jim Murphy: There has been no need for me to have discussions with Departments. They have delegated authority to determine their own pay arrangements, outside of the senior civil service, that are tailored to meet their business needs. However, my officials have regular discussions with Departments regarding pay issues.

Public Appointments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what further steps he has taken to increase diversity in public appointments.

Jim Murphy: This Government are committed to achieving greater diversity in public appointments. All Department's including my own, will in due course publish an Annual Appointments Plan. These will provide more detail and clarity than before, on the overall policy, approach, and diversity objectives set by individual Department's to public appointments.

Departmental Energy Costs

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much was spent by his Department on (a) gas and (b) electricity in 200405.

Jim Murphy: Spending on gas and electricity by the Cabinet Office in 200405 is shown in the table.
	
		
			   
		
		
			 Gas 63,743 
			 Electricity 588,248

Departmental Entertainment

Oliver Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much was spent on entertainment by his Department in 200405, broken down by (a) food, (b) alcohol, (c) staff and (d) accommodation.

Jim Murphy: The Cabinet Office spent 571,940 on entertainment in 200405. Expenditure broken down into the four categories requested is not separately identifiable on the department's accounting system and is therefore only available at disproportionate cost.
	Entertainment expenditure includes working breakfasts or lunches, refreshments at meetings and all similar types of entertainment expenditure.
	All Cabinet Office expenditure on official entertainment is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting.

Departmental Recruitment

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many job advertisements were placed by his Department (a) in total, (b) in print newspapers and magazines and (c) on a recruitment website in each year since 1997; and at what cost in each case.

Jim Murphy: Cabinet Office expenditure on recruitment advertising for 200405 and 200506 is shown in the table.
	Information prior to 1 April 2004 could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	
		Cabinet Office expenditure on recruitment advertising for 200506
		
			  Total Print(23) Website only(24) 
		
		
			 Numbers 62 27 35 
			 Total cost 172,736 172,576 160 
			 Average cost  6,392 4.57 
		
	
	
		Cabinet Office expenditure on recruitment advertising for 200405
		
			  Total Print(23) Website only(24) 
		
		
			 Numbers 93 47 46 
			 Total cost 236,828 236,828 0 
			 Average cost  5,039 0 
		
	
	(23) Includes press associated website. These posts were also advertised on the civil service Gateway.
	(24) Vacancies advertised on the civil service gateway only.

Departmental Staff

Kate Hoey: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans his Department has to change the London allowance of its staff; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: The Cabinet Office does not pay a specific allowance to employees located in London. There are, however, two pay scales: one covering employees located in London, Sunningdale and Basingstoke and a national pay scale for employees in other locations.

E-government

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many Government IT projects processed as part of the e-government programmes have gone (a) over budget and (b) over time since 1997.

Jim Murphy: This information is not held centrally and could only be collected at disproportionate cost.

Energy Review

Robert Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assumptions regarding energy intensity improvements the strategy unit made in its preparation of background papers for the current energy review.

Jim Murphy: The strategy unit has not made any assumptions about future energy intensity improvements.

Public Services

David Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on progress with the reform of delivery of public services.

Jim Murphy: This Government have made considerable progress on the reform of our public services.
	We are committed to investment and reform in our public services.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Academies

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list donations received by each city academy from (a) commercial and business organisations and (b) private individuals.

Jacqui Smith: Information on sponsors' donations received to date towards open academies' capital costsrather than total sponsorship committedis given in the following table.
	Sponsors' donations are normally made over the lifetime of the building costs of the project, so in some cases a number of payments towards capital costs remain to be made. In other cases, sponsors' payments have been made, but are not recorded in the table as auditors have not yet completed their checks on whether these were spent on capital or recurrent costs.
	We do not keep a record of sponsors' non-capital donations to academies.
	
		
			 Open academy Sponsor Total evidence of use of sponsor contributions to capital costs to end January 2006 (000) 
		
		
			 2002 openers   
			 The Business Academy, Bexley Garrard Education Trust 947 
			 Greig Greig Trust with the London Diocesan Board for Schools 1,375 
			 Unity City Amey plc 1,948 
			
			 2003 openers   
			 City Academy, Bristol John Laycock/University of the West of England 1,748 
			 Capital City (Brent) Sir Frank Lowe 1,993 
			 City of London (Southwark) Corporation of London 1,097 
			 Djanogly City Academy, Nottingham Sir Harry Djanogly 250 
			 King's Emmanuel Schools Foundation 2,000 
			 Manchester ULT 336 
			 Peckham Harris Charitable Trust/Whitgift Foundation 1,187 
			 Walsall The Mercers Company/Thomas Telford online 2,062 
			 West London (Ealing) Alec Reed 1,700 
			
			 2004 openers   
			 Lambeth ULT 1,000 
			 London (Barnet) Peter Shalson 1,254 
			 Mossbourne Sir Clive Bourne 1,656 
			 Northampton ULT 624 
			 Stockley Barry Townsley 431 
			
			 2005 openers   
			 Dixons City Dixons CTC Trust 264 
			 Harefield David Meller and others 42 
			 Marlowe Roger de Haan/Kent County Council 1,462 
			 St. Francis of Assisi Diocese of Liverpool/RC Archdiocese of Liverpool 950 
			 St. Paul's (Greenwich) Archdiocese of Southwark/London Borough of Greenwich 200 
			 Trinity (Doncaster) Emmanuel Schools Foundation 1,741

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children were adopted in each local authority area in 2005.

Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 11 November 2005, Official Report, column 801W. The publication Children Looked After by Local Authorities Year Ending 31 March 2005 will be published by the Department in March 2006.

Bullying

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what steps her Department is taking (a) to prevent (i) bullying and (ii) the causes of bullying and (b) to help those who are victims of bullying;
	(2)  how many children have changed schools as a result of being victims of bullying since 1997; and how many children have been (a) suspended and (b) expelled from school for bullying in that period;
	(3)  how much funding her Department made available for schools to tackle the problem of bullying in each academic year between 1997 and 2005;
	(4)  if she will make a statement on Government plans to tackle bullying;
	(5)  what support her Department provides to (a) ChildLine, (b) the NSPCC and (c) other charitable organisations to help them support victims of bullying;
	(6)  what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) published on bullying in schools since 1997;
	(7)  what training teachers receive to deal with bullying in schools; and how much funding her Department allocated for training teachers to deal with bullying in schools in (a) Leicester and (b) England in the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: This Government have given an unprecedented high profile to preventing bullying and supporting those who have been bullied. Our anti-bullying work, including the anti-bullying Charter for Action, takes an integrated approach to preventing bullying, to addressing causes of bullyingfor example prejudiceand to helping those who are bullied.
	Since 1999 it has been compulsory for every school to have an anti-bullying policy in place which details how the school will tackle bullying.
	We have secured a very broad consensus, with all the teaching professional associations and the Anti Bullying Alliance signing up to our Anti-Bullying Charter for Action. The Charter is a voluntary commitment to creating a school community where bullying is not tolerated. In line with commitments outlined in the White Paper we re-issued the Charter during Anti-Bullying Week 2005 and therefore expect an increase in the number being returned to us via the ABA over the coming months. In 2006 we plan to share examples of where the Charter has been particularly well implemented with other schools, which can learn from this best practice.
	Through our work with the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA), an organisation comprising over 65 leading anti-bullying charities and experts, we provide schools and local authorities with expert help to tackle bullying.
	We have put more adults than ever in our schoolsteachers, classroom assistants, learning mentors, Connexions personal advisers, Behaviour and Education Support Teams and police officersso that a wide range of people are available to help prevent and tackle bullying.
	Further to the White Paper, in 2006 we shall issue guidance on prejudice driven bullying, including racist and homophobic bullying, providing school staff with valuable support in an area they often find challenging. We plan to launch our advice on countering racist bullying online at the end of February.
	Anti-bullying week continues to be a successful event with a large number of schools taking part in November 2005's activities through a wide variety of national and local events. There was a considerable amount of positive press coverage and this year over 325,000 wristbands were distributed.
	Our anti-bullying resource pack for schools Bullying: Don't Suffer in Silence, updated in 2000 and September 2002 will be revised and re-issued in 2006 to ensure schools have the most up-to-date information available on tackling bullying.
	In addition the Department has recently launched the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) curriculum resourcean intervention to develop children's social, emotional and behavioural skills from Foundation Stage to Year 6. It is available to all primary schools and the evidence from the pilot suggests that it helps reduce bullying and promotes positive behaviour generally. It is an important arm of the Department's longer term policy to promote positive behaviour and attendance. The Department is hoping to build on the work carried out in primary schools by providing a similar whole school curriculum based resource for secondary schools (SEBS). At present the programme is in a very early pilot stage.
	Data on bullying is not collected centrally and thus there is no reliable basis for an estimate of how many children have changed schools as a result of being bullied.
	The first time the reason for exclusion was collected was in the academic year 2003/04. In that year 150 pupils were permanently excluded and 6,750 were given fixed period exclusions for bullying. This information comes from the Statistical First Release on Permanent and Fixed Period Exclusion from Schools and Exclusion Appeals in England, 2003/04.
	Funds for schools to devote to anti-bullying work form part of their overall budgets; they are not ring fenced so we have no information on how much they have devoted to this.
	The figures for the anti-bullying strand of the Improving Behaviour and Attendance strategy, which is used centrally to support schools and local authorities in their anti bullying work, are given as follows:
	
		
			  Amount () 
		
		
			 2002/03 184,000 
			 2003/04 1,054,000 
			 2004/05 1,613,000 
			 2005/06 1,145,000 
		
	
	Figures for earlier years are not available because the anti-bullying strand of behaviour work was not disaggregated.
	In 2005/06 the Department has contributed a further 200,000 of funding to CHIPS (ChildLine in Partnership with Schools). The CHIPS scheme encourages young people to set up programmes, with the help of ChildLine and their teachers, to support their peers and to create safe environments in which to learn.
	We note that ChildLine and the NSPCC have recently joined forces and we hope to continue working with both in their joint efforts to protect and support those who have been bullied.
	We have provided the ABA, with 600,000 of funding for the 2005/06 period.
	The Department has committed 200,000 for 2005/06 to Parent Line Plus, a telephone advice line for parents offering guidance on a range of subjects. Between April 2003 and March 2004 21 per cent. of all calls received related to bullying. In conjunction with the DFES and the ABA, the line can also refer parents who have not received satisfactory help at a local level to a one to one advice line.
	The Diana Memorial Award for anti-bullying was launched in 2004 and highlights the achievements of young people trying to tackle bullying in their school or community. The Department has shown its continuing support for this initiative by contributing 50,000 of funding for 2005/06.
	Our guidance to schools on tackling bullying, Don't Suffer in Silence, has been externally evaluated by researchers at Goldsmith's College, University of London. The results, though based on a fairly low response rate from schools, show that the schools found that the pack met their expectations and helped in drawing up their anti-bullying policies.
	This evaluation included research into the perceived success of the anti bullying strategies and interventions recommended in the guidance. Schools generally reported a high level of satisfaction with the interventions they had used.
	The Department commissioned the Thomas Coram Research Unit at the Institute of Education, University of London, to review the research evidence relating to homophobia in schools and to talk to groups with an interest in this area. The Department published their work in its Research Report series in late 2004, number 594, entitled Homophobia, Sexual Orientation and Schools: A Review and Implications for Action.
	Training has been provided in each Government Office region through the Make The Difference conferences and through ABA training events and direct ABA work with individual schools. Training is also being provided through dissemination events linked to forthcoming advice on countering prejudice driven bullying.
	Through the National Strategies the Department makes high-quality staff training materials on managing behaviour, including bullying, available to all schools. In addition each local authority is also supported by at least one expert Behaviour and Attendance consultant in each local authority.
	Through the National Programme for Specialist Leaders of Behaviour and Attendance (NPSL-BA), the Department has developed a programme for training specialist staff who have leadership roles in relation to behaviour and attendance, including anti-bullying.
	In addition our resources such as the Charter and Don't Suffer in Silence offer further support and advice to teachers in this area.
	As anti-bullying training funding is not disaggregated or devolved directly, it is not possible to identify national funds or funds for Leicester.

Bullying

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what statistics her Department (a) collects and (b) publishes on bullying in schools in England.

Jacqui Smith: The Department does not collect national data on instances of bullying in England and schools. However, there are surveys run by, or supported by, the Department which do give an indication of the extent of bullying in schools in England.
	The Department contributes funds to the Department for Work and Pensions' 'Families and Children Study'. This is an annual survey of a representative sample of families with dependent children in Britain. The study includes questions to parents and children on bullying (either in or out of schools). Reports from this study are published by DWP and are available from http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/facs/facs_publication.asp
	The Department also runs the Longitudinal Study of Young People in Education (LSYPE) which is following a sample of young people in schools in England from Year 9 onwards. This survey covers pupils in both maintained and independent sectors and includes questions to parents and children on bullying. Although data from the first wave of this study are not yet available there are plans to make the data publicly available from the UK Data Archive.

Community Schools

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the total value of public assets which would be transferred from local authorities to independent trusts if (a) all community secondary schools and (b) all community primary and secondary schools chose to become trust schools.

Jacqui Smith: No estimate has been made of the value of those public assets that would transfer to and vest in the trustees of a new trust school. Measures similar to those already in place to protect publicly funded assets that have transferred to existing foundation schools will be introduced. These will require the trustees to obtain the appropriate consent before disposing of any assets transferred to them from the local authority.

Community Schools

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps her Department are taking to promote community schools.

Jacqui Smith: The Government expects all schools to sit at the heart of their communities and to work with other schools and services to meet the needs of those communities, regardless of their category.
	The Government wishes to promote a diverse range of schools, reflecting the diversity of the communities that they serve. We have accordingly introduced legislation to require a competition to be held wherever a new secondary school is required so that a variety of providers can bring forward proposals and local people have the opportunity to make their views known about a number of options. The White Paper envisages extending this requirement to apply to new primary schools. The Secretary of State has recently made clear that where a local authority believe a community school is the right option for a particular area they will be able to seek the Secretary of State's consent to publish proposals for such a school. The final decision on proposals made by a local authority will be for the independent schools adjudicator.

Departmental Assets

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the items of departmental property worth over 100 that have been reported as (a) lost and (b) broken in the last 12 months.

Maria Eagle: My Department has no record of any items worth over 100 being reported as lost in the last 12 months. The following chart shows items of IT equipment that have been replaced in the last 12 months due to their being broken, either accidentally or due to normal wear and tear.
	
		
			 Item Number Total value () 
		
		
			 Laptop computers 186 148,800 
			 Personal computers 117 46,800 
			 Laserjet printers 33 28,050

Departmental Catering Budget

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much and what proportion of her Department's catering budget was spent on fair trade produce in the last period for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: The information could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students in Bristol were in receipt of education maintenance allowance at the rate of (a) 30, (b) 20 and (c) 10 per week in the last year for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council, who operate Education Maintenance Allowances for the DfES and hold the information about take-up of the scheme. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, has written to my hon. Friend with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.
	Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 30 January 2006
	I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question that asked how many students in Bristol were in receipt of education maintenance allowance at the rate of (a) 30, (b) 20 and (c) 10 per week in the last year for which figures are available.
	During the academic year 2004/05 the number of young people who had received one or more EMA payments in City of Bristol Local Education Authority area was 1,484.
	EMA is awarded in three defined payment bands of 30, 20 and 10, depending on household income. In Bristol Local Education Authority area the take-up of EMA by payment band is split as follows: 1,138 on 30 per week, 168 on 20 per week and 178 on 10 per week.
	I hope this information is helpful and addresses your question. If you would like further details please contact Chris Bradley at the LSC National Office on 0114 207 4512 or Christopher.Bradley@lsc.gov.uk

Education Maintenance Allowance

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of students in receipt of education maintenance allowance who have continued into further education who otherwise would not have continued in education.

Maria Eagle: Education maintenance allowance (EMA) was subject to a very comprehensive evaluation. It was piloted by following two cohorts of 16-year-olds in 10 areas for four years from 1999/2000. It was rolled out to a further 36 areas in 2000/01, meaning that it was operating in around one third of the country. The evaluation showed an increase in participation of 16-year-olds in full-time education of 3.8 percent pts. This remains our most robust estimate of the impact of EMA on participation.
	EMA was rolled out for 16-year-olds across the remaining two thirds of the country in September 2004. Administrative figures indicate that there was a 1.9 percent. pts increase in 16-year-old participation between 2003/04 and 2004/05, which is almost in line with the increase that would have been expected from the further roll out of EMA. Therefore, while it is not possible to attribute all of the increase to the roll out of EMA we remain confident in the evaluation estimate of 3.8 percent. pts. 3.8 percent. pts of the 16-year-old cohort in 2004/05 represents just over 25,000 young people.

Examinations

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many 15-year-olds took Level 2 Key Skills and Basic Skills qualifications regarded as functional equivalents to a GCSE in mathematics or English in the last year for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: The figures requested are included in the following table:
	
		
			  Key skill/basic skill qualification(25) Number of 15-year-old pupils(26) achieving(27) level 2 in 2005 
		
		
			 Application of number/Adult Numeracy 3,186 
			 Communication skills/Adult Literacy 3,754 
		
	
	(25) These qualifications are included in the definitions for 5 A*-C including functional English and mathematics.
	(26) The figures shown relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year (i.e. 31 August 2004).
	(27) The Department only holds information on the number of pupils achieving-not attempting-key skills and basic skills.

Failing Schools

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many failing schools there were in each local education authority area in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested has been placed in the House Libraries.

Former Teachers

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers have left the profession in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) subject and (b) length of service.

Jacqui Smith: The following table provides the number of full and part-time regular qualified teachers who left maintained sector service in England, including retirements, by length of service in each year between 19992000 and 200304, the latest year available.
	A subject breakdown is not available.
	Some of these teachers may have subsequently re-entered service or gone to teach outside of the English maintained sector.
	Although the numbers of teachers leaving service has risen over the period, the number of new entrants has shown a greater increase. As a result the number of teachers in service has risen continually since 1998 and the full-time equivalent number of teachers in service is now 32,700 higher than in 1997. Between 2004 and 2005 the increase was 4,200. Teacher numbers are now at their highest level since 1981.
	
		Full and part-time regular teachers leaving service in the maintained sector by length of service in England, 19992000 to 200304
		
			  19992000 200001 200102 200203(28) 200304(28) 
		
		
			 Length of service  
			 04 years 9,690 10,010 9,930 9,070 8,930 
			 59 years 5,930 6,320 6,110 7,060 6,730 
			 1014 years 4,450 4,480 4,350 4,830 4,560 
			 1519 years 4,230 4,330 4,170 4,220 3,890 
			 20+ years 11,090 12,820 13,010 14,770 15,450 
			 Total 35,390 37,960 37,550 39,950 39,550 
		
	
	(28) Provisional estimates.
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Database of teacher records.

Further Education Funding

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 19 December 2005, Official Report, column 2414W, on further education funding, how many 16 to 19-year-olds were unfunded as a consequence of further education colleges exceeding their recruitment targets agreed with the relevant local learning and skills council in (a) 2002/03 and (b) 2003/04 in (i) each local learning and skills council area and (ii) each college.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 13 February 2006
	No 16 to 19-year-olds were unfunded in 2002/03 or 2003/04. Further education colleges delivering learning for young people above the planned volumes agreed with the Learning and Skills Council were provided with extra funding for these additional learners.

GCSEs

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many GCSEs on average were taken by a year 10 pupil in 2005; and what the range in the number of GCSEs taken was.

Jacqui Smith: Year 10 pupils can be defined in two ways; those who are one year away from completing Key Stage 4 and those who are aged 14 at the start of the academic year. Figures for 2005 have been presented on both bases (there are no pupils included in both groups).
	
		Number of GCSEs attempted(29)2004/05
		
			  Number of GCSEs attempted  14-year-olds 1 year before end of key stage 4 
		
		
			 1 62 788 
			 2 33 182 
			 3 36 42 
			 4 25 36 
			 5 60 24 
			 6 64 30 
			 7 69 38 
			 8 113 28 
			 9 445 41 
			 10 409 14 
			 11 165 3 
			 12 35 0 
			 13 7 0 
			 Average 8 2 
		
	
	(29) Including attempts in previous academic years.

GCSEs

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average number of GCSE passes obtained per pupil was in (a) comprehensive schools and (b) selective schools in 200405.

Jacqui Smith: The figures requested for 2004/05 are included in the following table:
	
		Maintained mainstream schools
		
			  School type (admissions basis) Number of 15-year-old pupils(31) in 2004/05(32) Average number of full GCSEs(30) achieved at grades A*-C per 15-year-old pupil(31) 
		
		
			 Comprehensive 526,319 5 
			 Selective 22,334 9 
		
	
	(30) The average number of full GCSEs has been calculated by summing the number of GCSE qualifications achieved and dividing by the number of 15 year old pupils.
	(31) The figures shown relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year (i.e. 31 August 2004).
	(32) Figures for 2004/05 are revised.

GCSEs

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in how many schools less than (a) 90, (b) 85, (c) 80 and (d) 70 per cent. of pupils achieved five or more GCSEs or equivalent at (i) grades A* to C and (ii) A* to G including English and mathematics in 200405.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested on the number of schools with particular proportions of pupils achieving 5+ A*-C grades and 5+ A*-G including English and mathematics can be founding the following table.
	
		Number of maintained mainstream schools, by percentage of 15-year-old pupils achieving 5+ A*-C and 5+ A*-G Including English and mathematics. 2004/05
		
			  5+ A*-C grades 5+ A*-G inc. English and mathematics 
		
		
			 Less than 70 percent. 2,415 95 
			 Less than 80 percent. 2,774 402 
			 Less than 85 percent. 2,849 729 
			 Less than 90 percent. 2,885 1,296 
		
	
	Notes:
	(33) Includes those schools with results published in the achievement and attainment tables.
	(34) Includes City Technology Colleges and Academies.
	(35) Age at the start of the academic year.

GCSEs

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in how many and what proportion of schools less than (a) 90, (b) 85, (c) 80 and (d) 70 per cent. of pupils achieved one or more GCSEs, or equivalent, at grades A* to C in 200405.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested on the number of schools with particular proportions of pupils achieving one or more GCSEs and equivalents at grades A*-C in 200405 can be found as follows.
	
		Number of maintained mainstream schools(36)(37) by percentage of 15-year-old pupils(38) achieving 1+ A*-C. 2004/05
		
			 Less than (percentage) Number Percentage 
		
		
			 70 814 26.3 
			 80 1,600 51.7 
			 85 2,073 67.0 
			 90 2,526 81.6 
		
	
	(36) Includes those schools with results published in the Achievement and Attainment tables.
	(37) Includes city technology colleges and academies.
	(38) Age at the start of the academic year.

GCSEs

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in how many schools in England less than (a) 10 per cent. and (b) 25 per cent. of 15-year-olds attained five A* to C grade GCSE examinations in (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested on the number of schools with particular proportions of pupils achieving five plus A* to C grades at GCSE and equivalent can be found as follows.
	
		Number of maintained mainstream schools(39)(40), by percentage of 15-year-old pupils(41) achieving five plus A* to C
		
			  Less than 10 per cent. Less than 25 per cent. 
		
		
			 2003/04 9 186 
			 2004/05 5 112 
		
	
	(39) Includes those schools with results published in the achievement and attainment tables.
	(40) Includes city technology colleges and academies.
	(41) Age at the start of the academic year.

Higher Education (16 to 19-year-old Parents)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many 16 to 19-year-old parents have returned to higher education in Tamworth constituency in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: The information is not held centrally.

Independent Schools

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research she has commissioned into the possible involvement of religious cults in schools in the independent sector; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: My Department has not commissioned any research on this subject.

Independent Schools

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2006, Official Report, column 80W, to the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale, West (Mr. Brady), on independent schools, how many and what percentage of children of (a) primary and (b) secondary school age in each London borough attended independent schools in each year since 19992000.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
	
		Number and percentage of pupils attending independent schools by age1, 2, 3
		
			 Position in January each year 
			  2000 2001 
			  Aged 5 to 10 Aged 11 to 15 Aged 5 to 10 Aged 11 to 15 
			  Number % Number % Number % Number % 
		
		
			 England(45) 203,120 5.3 213,270 6.9 205,590 5.4 217,620 6.9 
			  
			 London(45) 49,460 9.0 39,140 9.6 50,330 9.2 40,130 9.7 
			 Inner London(45) 23,600 11.7 17,010 12.4 24,190 12.0 17,560 12.6 
			 Camden 3,558 28.5 1,794 17.1 3,600 28.6 1,764 16.9 
			 City of London 238 57.9 1,059 100.0 230 56.8 1,072 100.0 
			 Hackney 2,655 16.3 1,254 14.0 2,784 16.9 1,269 14.0 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,441 16.1 1,748 22.6 1,481 16.6 1,815 22.5 
			 Haringey 625 3.6 799 7.3 624 3.6 820 7.2 
			 Islington 301 2.4 68 0.9 324 2.6 73 1.0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 4,886 47.6 2,479 44.2 4,992 47.9 2,485 44.1 
			 Lambeth 1,057 6.4 363 4.8 1,094 6.7 420 5.4 
			 Lewisham 768 4.1 832 6.5 742 4.0 838 6.4 
			 Newham 75 0.3 50 0.3 69 0.3 76 0.4 
			 Southwark 1,437 7.3 2,257 17.2 1,443 7.3 2,302 16.9 
			 Tower Hamlets 129 0.8 256 1.9 139 0.8 401 2.9 
			 Wandsworth 4,186 23.7 1,736 15.1 4,367 24.6 1,812 15.5 
			 Westminster 2,241 22.4 2,316 25.3 2,304 22.7 2,414 25.9 
			  
			 Outer London4 25,860 7.4 22,130 8.2 26,130 7.5 22,570 8.2 
			 Barking and Dagenham 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 
			 Barnet 2,227 9.6 2,156 10.9 2,157 9.3 2,246 11.2 
			 Bexley 561 3.0 0 0.0 557 3.0 0 0.0 
			 Brent 1,038 5.6 535 4.2 996 5.3 528 4.1 
			 Bromley 2,190 9.3 1,651 8.8 2,200 9.4 1,700 8.7 
			 Croydon 2,416 8.7 3,053 14.7 2,468 8.9 3,038 14.2 
			 Ealing 2,388 10.3 2,236 14.3 2,397 10.4 2,113 13.6 
			 Enfield 939 4.1 292 1.6 963 4.2 299 1.7 
			 Greenwich 796 4.5 914 6.8 872 5.0 968 7.1 
			 Harrow 1,436 8.9 2,061 16.0 1,457 9.1 2,160 16.5 
			 Havering 512 2.8 117 0.8 534 3.0 135 0.9 
			 Hillingdon 1,612 7.8 1,229 8.2 1,642 8.0 1,251 8.1 
			 Hounslow 398 2.6 207 1.5 393 2.6 218 1.6 
			 Kingston upon Thames 1,399 13.3 1,271 15.2 1,394 13.2 1,331 15.5 
			 Merton 1,521 12.2 1,169 12.6 1,555 12.7 1,152 12.5 
			 Redbridge 2,107 10.3 890 5.6 2,125 10.2 895 5.6 
			 Richmond upon Thames 3,098 23.9 3,045 28.7 3,171 24.1 3,220 29.7 
			 Sutton 858 6.5 504 4.1 897 6.7 500 3.9 
			 Waltham Forest 362 2.0 795 6.0 355 2.0 812 6.0 
		
	
	
		
			  2002 2003 
			  Aged 5 to 10 Aged 11 to 15 Aged 5 to 10 Aged 11 to 15 
			  Number % Number % Number % Number % 
		
		
			  
			 England(45) 207,090 5.5 222,150 7.0 206,510 5.5 226,180 7.0 
			  
			 London(45) 50,940 9.3 41,340 9.8 51,140 9.4 41,990 9.9 
			 Inner London(45) 24,680 12.3 18,320 13.0 25,010 12.4 18,650 132 
			 Camden 3,705 29.5 1,833 17.4 3,695 29.5 1,840 19.7 
			 City of London 233 100.0 1,077 100.0 245 58.5 1,046 100.0 
			 Hackney 2,884 17.5 1,415 15.1 2,982 17.9 1,485 16.0 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,544 17.2 1,826 22.4 1,599 17.6 2,035 24.3 
			 Haringey 620 3.5 862 7.5 596 3.4 834 7.1 
			 Islington 315 2.5 86 1.1 359 3.0 96 1.2 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 5,069 48.3 2,611 45.8 4,755 46.6 2,387 43.4 
			 Lambeth 1,183 7.2 479 6.1 1,221 7.4 479 6.0 
			 Lewisham 770 4.2 812 6.4 758 4.1 832 6.4 
			 Newham 72 0.3 88 0.5 77 0.3 96 0.5 
			 Southwark 1,491 7.5 2,317 16.7 1,498 7.5 2,344 16.5 
			 Tower Hamlets 117 0.7 522 3.8 170 1.0 563 4.0 
			 Wandsworth 4,356 24.7 1,965 16.5 4,442 25.0 2,077 17.3 
			 Westminster 2,323 22.5 2,427 25.7 2,613 24.1 2,536 26.2 
			  
			 Outer London4 26,250 7.6 23,020 8.3 26,130 7.6 23,340 8.2 
			 Barking and Dagenham 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 
			 Barnet 2,228 9.8 2,267 11.4 2,213 9.7 2,301 11.6 
			 Bexley 546 3.0 0 0.0 544 3.1 0 0.0 
			 Brent 1,002 5.4 627 4.9 1,030 5.5 695 4.9 
			 Bromley 2,149 9.3 1,765 8.8 1,907 8.3 1,787 8.9 
			 Croydon 2,466 9.0 3,083 14.2 2,479 9.2 3,122 14.0 
			 Ealing 2,387 10.5 2,112 13.4 2,431 10.8 2,056 12.9 
			 Enfield 962 4.2 316 1.7 953 4.2 350 1.9 
			 Greenwich 903 5.2 987 7.1 935 5.5 989 7.6 
			 Harrow 1,453 9.1 2,152 16.4 1,453 9.1 2,152 16.4 
			 Havering 551 3.1 128 0.8 534 3.0 133 0.9 
			 Hillingdon 1,580 7.8 1,253 7.9 1,545 7.7 1,270 7.8 
			 Hounslow 382 2.5 212 1.5 530 3.5 239 1.7 
			 Kingston upon Thames 1,373 13.0 1,373 15.6 1,400 13.3 1,475 16.4 
			 Merton 1,684 13.9 1,202 13.0 1,639 13.5 1,142 12.3 
			 Redbridge 2,150 10.3 867 5.3 2,146 10.3 871 5.2 
			 Richmond upon Thames 3,170 24.3 3,306 30.6 3,100 24.0 3,399 31.2 
			 Sutton 873 6.6 527 4.0 841 6.5 509 3.8 
			 Waltham Forest 394 2.2 838 6.1 449 2.6 852 6.0 
		
	
	
		Position in January each year
		
			  2004 2005 
			  Aged 5 to 10 Aged 11 to 15 Aged 5 to 10 Aged 11 to 15 
			  Number % Number % Number % Number % 
		
		
			  
			 England(45) 205,340 5.5 232,730 7.1 202,670 5.5 232,080 7.1 
			  
			 London(45) 51,390 9.5 43,090 10.0 51,220 9.5 42,980 10.0 
			 Inner London(45) 25,120 12.5 19,370 13.6 25,280 12.6 19,490 13.6 
			 Camden 3,629 29.1 1,847 19.7 3,590 28.7 1,770 19.0 
			 City of London 373 68.4 1,033 100.0 391 69.8 1,074 100.0 
			 Hackney 3,051 18.3 1,580 18.0 3,053 18.3 1,612 17.6 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,634 18.0 2,063 24.8 1,855 20.0 2,082 25.6 
			 Haringey 576 3.3 840 7.1 599 3.5 869 7.3 
			 Islington 256 2.2 119 1.5 250 2.2 115 1.4 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 4,822 46.6 2,592 45.5 5,023 47.6 2,566 45.3 
			 Lambeth 1,240 7.6 489 6.0 1,148 7.0 478 5.7 
			 Lewisham 645 3.6 893 6.9 634 3.6 864 6.8 
			 Newham 126 0.5 163 0.9 273 1.2 243 1.3 
			 Southwark 1,468 7.5 2,337 16.2 1,489 7.7 2,292 15.5 
			 Tower Hamlets 203 1.2 597 4.3 220 1.3 655 4.8 
			 Wandsworth 4,489 25.6 2,202 18.0 4,187 24.0 2,285 18.5 
			 Westminster 2,605 23.9 2,616 26.7 2,567 23.4 2,584 26.4 
			  
			 Outer London4 26,270 7.7 23,720 8.3 25,940 7.7 23,490 8.2 
			 Barking and Dagenham 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 
			 Barnet 2,296 10.1 2,353 11.9 2,334 10.2 2,361 12.2 
			 Bexley 544 3.1 0 0.0 542 3.1 0 0.0 
			 Brent 1,040 5.5 704 4.9 877 4.7 714 4.9 
			 Bromley 1,966 8.7 1,761 8.7 1,870 8.4 1,725 8.6 
			 Croydon 2,427 9.1 3,149 13.9 2,386 9.1 3,126 13.8 
			 Ealing 2,339 10.4 2,167 13.5 2,223 9.9 2,093 13.1 
			 Enfield 952 4.2 356 1.9 947 4.2 351 1.8 
			 Greenwich 1,093 6.3 1,014 7.2 1,058 6.2 1,009 7.2 
			 Harrow 1,418 8.9 2,156 16.3 1,454 9.1 2,103 16.1 
			 Havering 534 3.1 173 1.1 517 3.0 181 1.2 
			 Hillingdon 1,542 7.7 1,292 7.7 1,574 7.9 1,271 7.7 
			 Hounslow 536 3.5 253 1.8 557 3.7 241 1.7 
			 Kingston upon Thames 1,433 14.2 1,503 16.6 1,374 13.2 1,528 16.7 
			 Merton 1,655 13.6 1,138 12.3 1,651 13.4 1,139 12.4 
			 Redbridge 2,198 10.6 863 5.1 2,187 10.5 866 5.1 
			 Richmond upon Thames 3,009 23.2 3,429 31.5 3,072 23.2 3,410 31.6 
			 Sutton 805 6.3 523 3.9 803 6.3 510 3.8 
			 Waltham Forest 486 2.8 884 6.1 515 3.0 864 6.0 
		
	
	(42) Age as at 31 August in the previous year.
	(43) Number of pupils of that age in independent schools expressed as a percentage of pupils of that age in all schools.
	(44) Excludes dually registered pupils.
	(45) National and regional totals have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census.

Learning Difficulties

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support and services are available in (a) Staffordshire and (b) Tamworth constituency for new parents whose children have been diagnosed at birth as suffering from learning difficulties; and whether she plans to increase this assistance.

Maria Eagle: The Government are committed to improving services for all children and their families, including those with learning disabilities. The Every Child Matters programme, alongside the implementation of the National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services and the Government's SEN strategy Removing Barriers to Achievement, supports and promotes early intervention to help families of very young disabled children and special educational needs. In particular, the Government's Early Support Programme has been funded to improve support to parents of disabled children aged 03 and to provide timely interventions at the very earliest stages of disabilities being identified. All local authorities have now been asked to begin using the Early Support approaches and can access the resource materials to help improve services for families with young disabled children. The roll out of Sure Start Children's Centres across the country will also improve the integrated support provided to families with children under five who are disabled or who have special educational needs.
	In the Staffordshire area there are currently three designated Children's Centres. Although none of these are in the Tamworth constituency, the Tamworth Sure Start Local Programme and another early years centre in the constituency are planning to become children's centres in 200607. Across the county, child development centres (which provide specialist health support services to children with disabilities and SEN) are being co-located with children's centres.
	As well as mainstream services, families of children with learning disabilities are entitled to access a range of specialist local authority and health support services, such as the Parent Partnership service and portage services providing home based support to parents. Details about these local services are not collected centrally and to do so would incur disproportionate cost.

Looked-after Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many looked-after children there were on the latest date for which figures are available; and how they are cared for.

Maria Eagle: At 31 March 2005, the latest date for which information is available, there were 60,900 children who were looked after. Information on the numbers of children in the various types of care placement can be found in Table 1 of the Department's statistical first release on children looked after in England (including adoptions and care leavers), 200405. This can be downloaded from the internet at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000615/index.shtml.

Post-16 Education (Funding)

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions she has had in the last three years about equalising funding per student in sixth-form schools and further education colleges; and if she will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Ministers have had a number of discussions with a range of organisations in recent years about the different levels of funding for school 6th forms and further education (FE) colleges. The organisations we have met include the Association of Colleges, Sixth Form Colleges' Forum, Trade Unions and a very large number of individual colleges. The funding gap between school sixth forms and further education colleges for like-for-like 1619 provision is longstanding. The removal of the FE sector from local authority control, efficiency cuts during mid 1990s and increases in schools funding have all contributed to it. When the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) took over responsibility for funding schools sixth forms in April 2002 it became easier to compare the relative funding.
	The LSC as part of their 'agenda for change' proposals commissioned the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA) to review the funding gap between school sixth forms and colleges. The LSDA report was the first attempt to consider all the elements that contribute to the funding gap and while the report showed a convergence in funding rates it estimated the overall size of the gap to be in the region of 13 per cent.
	On 16 November 2005 the Secretary of State announced our plans for narrowing the funding gap. We recognise that the funding gap will not be easy to close but we have taken some important steps in the funding package we announced on 21 October 2005. We have confirmed that for young people in FE in 2006/07 we will match the Schools' Minimum Funding Guarantee of 3.4 per cent. We estimate that this, together with other measures to correct technical anomalies, will reduce the gap from 13 per cent. to 8 per cent. by 2006/07. From 2008 we will look to bring consistency to the treatment of student retention and achievement across school sixth forms and colleges which we expect to narrow the gap by a further 3 per cent. Beyond that we will work to establish a common funding approach across the two sectors as part of the Learning and Skills Council's 'agenda for change'.

Primary Schools (Results)

Edward Miliband: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the Key Stage 2 results in (a) each primary school in Doncaster North and (b) the constituency as a whole were in each year since 1995.

Jacqui Smith: The 1996 to 2005 Key Stage 2 results for each primary school are published in the Achievement and Attainment Tables (formally Performance Tables) and are available on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/performancetables/index_archived.shtml
	They are also available in the House Library.
	The 1997 to 2004 results for the constituency have been placed in the in the Library and are also available within the Department's 'In Your Area' website available at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/invourarea.
	Results for 1996 are not available at constituency level. Results for 2005 will be placed in the Library and made available on the 'In Your Area' website shortly.

Qualifications

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) GCSE passes at grade A-C and (b) GNVQ full intermediate passes there were in (i) media studies and (ii) child care in each of the last 20 years.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested (where available) can be found in the following tables.
	
		Number of A*-C passes in GCSE media. film and TV studies, by 15-year-old pupils(46)
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2000  
			 2001  
			 2002 15,300 
			 2003 17,600 
			 2004 20,700 
			 2005 24,500 
		
	
	
		Number of full intermediate GNVQ passes in media: communication and production, by 15-year-old pupils(46)
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2000 15 
			 2001 9 
			 2002 48 
			 2003 137 
			 2004 134 
			 2005 761 
		
	
	(46) Age at the start of the academic year.
	Figures for GCSE Media Studies are not available pre 2002 and GNVQ Media pre 2000. Courses in Child Care are not available at GCSE or GNVQ level.

Qualifications

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of pupils have obtained a GCSE pass at grade A-C in (a) mathematics and English and (b) mathematics, English, a science subject and a modern foreign language in each of the last 20 years.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested (where available) can be found in the following table.
	
		Percentage of 15-year-olds(47) achieving A*-C grades in the following GCSEs
		
			  English and mathematics English, mathematics, science and a modern language 
		
		
			 1995 34 24 
			 1996 35 25 
			 1997 36 25 
			 1998 37 26 
			 1999 39 28 
			 2000 40 29 
			 2001 42 30 
			 2002 43 30 
			 2003 43 29 
			 2004 44 28 
			 2005 46 28 
		
	
	(47) Age at the start of the academic year.
	Figures on these combinations of GCSE subjects are not available before 1995.

Qualifications

Edward Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many staff in (a) day nurseries and (b) schools in (i) Wakefield District and (ii) Normanton constituency are qualified to (A) Level 2, (B) Level 3 and (C) Level 4 standards.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not collected centrally.

School Finance

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how the introduction of the proposals in the White Paper Higher Standards: Better Schools for All will affect the (a) capital programmes and (b) grants for schools whose education authorities have no plans to introduce independent trust schools and academies; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Decisions to acquire a trust will be for individual schools' governing bodies. Local authorities will be able to object to such proposals, and the schools adjudicator will determine in certain circumstances. Plans for a school to become an academy are agreed between the department, the authority, the academy sponsor, and the predecessor school. Local plans for foundation or trust schools do not impact on capital or revenue allocations to authorities.
	School revenue funding for foundation, trust, voluntary aided, voluntary controlled and local authority schools is allocated on the same basis, irrespective of category of school. Academies are funded at the same level as an equivalent school in their area would be.
	Strategic capital programmes including Building Schools for the Future are allocated according to need and regardless of category of school. Formulaic capital funding for authorities is allocated on the needs of all their schools, including foundation and trust schools, with a separate allocation on the same basis for voluntary aided schools from the overall voluntary aided fair share of funding. These allocations do not contain amounts in respect of academies, where funding is delivered directly from the department.

School Finance

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what definition of a dedicated capital pot was used in compiling the White Paper Higher Standards: Better Schools for All.

Jacqui Smith: In our White Paper, local authorities will have a duty to respond positively to parental desire for an entirely new school or for additional provision in an existing school. They will be expected to provide dedicated consultancy support to help parents develop concrete proposals. The local authority will decide whether proposals to establish a new school should be taken forward, or whether the demands could be met in other ways. Parents will have a right of appeal to the schools adjudicator if their proposals are rejected.
	Any capital funding needed for new schools will usually be provided by existing capital programmes, including Building Schools for the Future, the Targeted Capital Fund and the formulaic funding which all authorities receive. However, where these or other local resources such as disposal proceeds are not available or are insufficient for the need, we will establish dedicated capital funding arrangements to support strong and innovative proposals that come from parents.
	Initially, my Department are holding funds from our overall capital resources from the 2004 spending review settlement to meet any calls until 200708. We will, of course, reallocate this funding to other priorities should it not be fully required. For the longer term, from 200809, these needs will be reflected in allocation of funding to programme, following the settlement of the comprehensive spending review which will be announced by the Chancellor in mid-2007.

School Food

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the recommendations of the school food trust sub-committee on standards for school food other than lunch will be subject to a full regulatory impact assessment.

Jacqui Smith: The School Food Trust has been commissioned to develop standards for food and drink provided in schools at times of the day other than lunchtime, for example in vending machines and tuck shops. In the near future we will carry out a consultation with key stakeholders in education, health and the food industry on the Trust's recommendations. A Regulatory Impact Assessment will accompany the consultation.

School Music

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding her Department has made available for school music facilities in (a) Leicester and (b) England in each academic year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: Capital allocations made to Leicester local authority and its schools are set out in the following table:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 199798 0.9 
			 199899 4.9 
			 19992000 10.8 
			 200001 11.0 
			 200102 11.2 
			 200203 9.3 
			 200304 12.3 
			 200405 18.3 
			 200506 25.5 
		
	
	Note:
	200405 and 200506 figures include targeted capital funds of 4.7 million and 15.2 million respectively.
	Capital allocations to local authorities and schools are higher than ever before. In 200506 they are 5.5 billion and they are planned to rise to 6.3 billion in 200708, an increase from 683 million in 199697.
	Capital allocations made to local authorities and schools in England since 199798 are set out in the following table:
	
		
			   billion 
		
		
			 199798 0.6 
			 199899 1.3 
			 19992000 1.6 
			 200001 2.5 
			 200102 2.5 
			 200203 3.3 
			 200304 4.2 
			 200405 4.9 
			 200506 5.5 
		
	
	Allocations are made on a financial year basis, not the academic year. It is the responsibility of schools and local authorities to determine how they allocate these funds to different projects, including enhancing school music facilities, taking account of local needs and priorities.
	Records are not held centrally that show how much of this funding is spent on school music facilities.

School Sport

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding her Department has made available for improvements to school sports facilities in (a) Leicester and (b) England in each year between 1997 and 2005.

Jacqui Smith: Significant funding is being provided specifically to enhance PE and school sport facilities between 2001 and 2009. In total, 686 million of lottery funding is providing a step change in school sport facilities through the Space for Sport and Arts and Big Lottery's New Opportunities for PE and Sport programmes.
	Local authorities and schools may supplement this with the formula capital funding that we provide to them. However, it is the responsibility of the schools and local authorities to determine how they allocate these funds to different projects, including enhancing school sports facilities, taking account of local needs and priorities.
	Records are not held centrally that show how much of this funding is spent on school sports facilities, neither am I able to provide a breakdown for Leicester.

Schools

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what changes to the funding formula for schools have been made since 1997; and what effect each change has had on funds per pupil for (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Cambridgeshire at constant prices.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 13 February 2006
	For 199899, nursery vouchers were abolished and the grant was added to the total distributed through the Standard Spending Assessment (SSA) methodology. The formula used to distribute funding for under 5s was also changed: prior to 199899, funding had been distributed on the basis of population of under 5s living within an authority; for 199899, 65 per cent. of under 5s funding was distributed on the basis of 4-year-old pupil numbers educated in an authority, with the remainder distributed on the basis of population of under 5s living within an authority. An allowance for sparsity was also introduced into the under 5s formula that year.
	For 200102, Nursery Education Grant for 4-year-olds ceased to be paid as a separate grant: this funding was included in the total distributed through the SSA methodology, and distributed at a flat rate according to the numbers of four year olds in Private Voluntary and Independent Providers.
	For 200203, funding for school sixth forms was transferred to the Learning and Skills Council. There were no changes made to the SSA formula that year.
	For 200304, SSAs were replaced by Formula Spending Shares. Funding for schools provision and LEA central functions was separately identified, and new formulae were introduced to distribute funding for under 5s, primary, secondary and high cost pupils, and funding for the Youth Service and LEA central functions. New indicators were introduced to reflect deprivation.
	For 200607 and 200708, the Dedicated Schools Grant was introduced, with the following distribution criteria: every authority receives an initial basic increase of 5 per cent. per pupil in both 200607 and 200708; beyond this basic increase, the available increase in funding in 200607 and 200708 reflects the priority which the government attaches to meeting the costs of greater personalisation of learning, more practical learning options for 1416 pupils, workforce reform and the increased entitlement to early years provision from 33 to 38 weeks. In relation to each of these priorities, the sums allocated in 200607 will be consolidated into the authority's baseline for 200708, and any further sums identified for 200708 will be on top of that amount. Full details are available on the Teachernet website at: www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/schoolfunding/200607_funding_arrangements/DSG200608/
	Identification of the effect on primary and secondary funding per pupil caused by these formula changesas opposed to changes in data or spending totalswould only be possible at disproportionate cost. The following table shows the adjusted percentage increase in SSA, FSS or Dedicated Schools Grant as applicable for each year since 199798 for Cambridgeshire.
	
		Increase in SSA/EFSS cash, on adjusted baselines
		
			  Cambridgeshire England 
		
		
			 199798 to 199899 5.5 5.5 
			 199899 to 19992000 6.3 5.7 
			 19992000 to 200001 5.6 5.4 
			 200001 to 200102 4.7 4.8 
			 200102 to 200203 5.7 6.0 
			 200203 to 200304 10.0 6.5 
			 200304 to 200405 6.8 5.4 
			 200405 to 200506 6.7 5.6

Schools

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding was spent on (a) repairing and (b) rebuilding schools in Tamworth constituency in each year since 1992.

Jacqui Smith: Allocation and expenditure records are maintained on a local authority rather than on a constituency basis. Accordingly, figures are supplied relating to Staffordshire county council. The figures in the following tables relate to the periods in which information is held centrally.
	Public funding spent on (a) repairs since 199697 is set out in the table.
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 199697 3.3 
			 199798 3.9 
			 199899 6.8 
			 19992000 6.4 
			 200001 6.9 
			 200102 8.3 
			 200203 6.3 
			 200304 5.7 
			 200405 6.6 
		
	
	Note:
	200203 figures exclude figures nursery schools.
	The table above sets out the available revenue figures received from Staffordshire county council, unaudited by the Department, on maintenance and improvement of schools.
	Capital allocations to Staffordshire county council are set out in the following table.
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 199697 3.7 
			 199798 7.4 
			 199899 28.4 
			 19992000 18.5 
			 200001 34.1 
			 200102 27.4 
			 200203 32.9 
			 200304 35.5 
			 200405 41.1 
			 200506 29.2 
		
	
	Note:
	199899 figures include Private Finance Initiative credits of 13.7 million. 200405 figures include a Targeted Capital Fund allocation of 3.6 million, and a relatively large Basic Need allocation.
	We expect local authorities and schools to take decisions locally on allocating funds between new buildings and improvements in accordance with priorities set out in their local asset management plans. Records of these categories of expenditures are not held centrally.
	Capital allocations to local authorities and schools are higher than ever before. In 200506 they are 5.5 billion and they are planned to increase to 6.3 billion in 200708, an increase from 683 million in 199697.

Secondary Schools

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) community, (b) voluntary-aided, (c) voluntary-controlled and (d) foundation secondary schools there are; and what proportion has a sixth form.

Jacqui Smith: The requested information is given in the table.
	
		Maintained secondary schools: number of schools by status, as at January 2005
		
			 England   
			  Number of schools 
			  Secondary schools with a sixth form (48) All secondary schools 
		
		
			 Community 965 2,193 
			 Voluntary aided 337 559 
			 Voluntary controlled 75 120 
			 Foundation 385 513 
			 Total 1,762 3,385 
		
	
	(48) Schools with one or more pupils in national curriculum year groups 12,13 or 14
	Note:
	Includes middle schools as deemed.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census

Specialist Schools/Colleges

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 14 November 2005 to the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, Official Report, column 952W, on selection, what method is used to (a) identify pupils as being able to benefit from targeted teaching in a particular subject and (b) assess the pupils who demonstrate a special capacity to succeed in a particular subject; and what guidance is given on this to specialist schools that select on aptitude in the relevant subject.

Jacqui Smith: Admission authorities are responsible for determining how to assess aptitude. Legislation requires them to ensure that tests do not assess general academic ability or aptitude for any subject other than the subject in question, and are free of racial or gender bias. The School Admissions Code of Practice gives further guidance on what the law permits. And the Schools Adjudicator has upheld objections to admission arrangements where he has found that there is no established test for, or objective assessment against, published criteria.
	The Specialist Schools Trust also provides advice on admissions, which emphasises that tests should not drift into assessing ability or general aptitude, by checking that the ability profile of those selected by aptitude is representative of all applicants, [and] adjusting testing if it is not.

Specialist Schools/Colleges

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  which specialist colleges and schools which are not specialist science colleges and schools offer (a) separate science and (b) dual award science at GCSE;
	(2)  what percentage of pupils in (a) specialist colleges and (b) schools which are not specialist science colleges took (i) separate science and (ii) dual award science in the last period for which figures are available;
	(3)  what percentage of pupils studying in specialist colleges and schools, which are not specialist science colleges and schools, have gained (a) dual award science, (b) biology, (c) chemistry and (d) physics GCSEs, in each of the last five years broken down by grade.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is shown in the following tables for the years 2002 to 2005. Information is not presented for 2001 as there were no schools designated as specialist science colleges in that year.
	Table 1: List of schools that are not specialist science colleges and schools where 15-year-old pupils have attempted (a) separate science and (b) dual award sciences at GCSE in 2004/05.
	The information has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	Only schools whose results are published in the achievement and attainment tables are included in this list.
	
		Table 2: Pupils studying in (a) specialist colleges and (b) specialist colleges which are not specialist science colleges being entered for GCSE qualifications in dual award science and separate sciences in 2005
		
			 Percentage 
			  2005 (15-year-olds(49))  Specialist colleges Non-science specialist colleges 
		
		
			 Biology 6.4 5.7 
			 Chemistry 6.1 5.4 
			 Physics 6.0 5.4 
			 Dual Award Science 75.0 74.5 
		
	
	(49) Age at the start of the academic year, i.e. 31 August.
	
		Table 3: Pupils studying in specialist colleges and schools which are not specialist science colleges and schools being entered for and achieving GCSE qualifications in dual award science and separate sciences by grade
		
			 Percentage 
			 Results of 15-year-olds(50) GCSE grade 
			  A* A B C D E F G Total(51) 
		
		
			 2005  
			 Biology 0.7 1.5 1.6 1.2 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.0 5.7 
			 Chemistry 0.8 1.3 1.5 1.3 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.0 5.4 
			 Physics 0.8 1.4 1.4 1.2 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.0 5.4 
			 Dual Award Science 3.1 6.4 10.5 22.0 14.9 9.2 5.0 2.0 74.5 
			   
			 2004  
			 Biology 0.7 1.5 1.6 1.2 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.0 5.6 
			 Chemistry 0.7 1.3 1.5 1.2 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.0 5.4 
			 Physics 0.7 1.4 1.4 1.2 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.0 5.4 
			 Dual Award Science 3.0 6.5 10.6 23.4 15.8 10.7 5.9 2.4 80.0 
			   
			 2003  
			 Biology 0.6 1.5 1.7 1.4 0.6 0.2 0.1 0.0 6.2 
			 Chemistry 0.7 1.3 1.5 1.5 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.0 5.7 
			 Physics 0.7 1.4 1.5 1.3 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.0 5.7 
			 Dual Award Science 2.9 6.6 10.6 23.8 16.5 10.9 6.3 2.6 81.8 
			   
			 2002  
			 Biology 0.6 1.4 1.7 1.2 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.0 5.4 
			 Chemistry 0.5 1.3 1.5 1.3 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.0 5.3 
			 Physics 0.7 1.3 1.3 1.3 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.0 5.3 
			 Dual Award Science 3.1 6.3 10.3 23.4 17.6 11.6 6.0 2.2 82.0 
		
	
	(50) Age at the start of the academic year, i.e. 31 August.
	(51) Total proportion of 15-year-old pupils entered for qualification, including those who achieved a 'U' grade, were absent or the result is pending.

St. James' Independent Schools

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent representations she has received on the mistreatment of pupils at St. James' Independent Schools in London, with particular reference to the School of Economic Science.

Maria Eagle: The Department has been made aware of allegations of abuse by teachers at St. James Independent Schools for Boys between 1975 and 1985. The matter is currently under investigation by Richmond-upon-Thames social services department and the Metropolitan police. We are liaising with them and will consider what, if any, action is required once their investigation has been completed.

Teachers and Lecturers

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers entered into (a) full-time and (b) part-time service in maintained schools in the East Riding of Yorkshire in each year since 2001.

Jacqui Smith: Information on the number of teachers entering service is not available by local authority.
	The information requested is available at a national level and this was published in the Statistics of Education, School Workforce in England Volume, 2005 edition, on 26 January 2006. Table C1c refers. This publication is available on the department's website at the following URL:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DBA/OL/v000633/index.shtml
	A copy of the relevant tables has been placed in the House of Common's Library.

Teachers and Lecturers

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average (a) teacher's and (b) lecturer's pay is; and what it was in 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The latest available figures are shown in the tables. Significant changes were made to the content, structure, coverage and definitions of the source data for HE staff in 2003/04 which means that the figures for 2004/05 are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.
	
		Average pay of full-time teachers and further education1 lecturersEngland
		
			 As at March Teachers Further education lecturers 
		
		
			 1997 22,760 23,720 
			 2004 31,690 29,580 
		
	
	(52) Covers only those FE lecturers who contribute to the teacher's pension scheme.
	Source:
	Database of teacher's records (DTR).
	
		Average salary(53) of full-time higher education academic staff with teaching responsibilitiesEngland
		
			  Professors Senior lecturers(54) and researchers Lecturers 
		
		
			 1996/97 45,300 34,600 25,800 
			 2004/05 59,100 41,500 33,000 
		
	
	(53) The HESA staff record changed markedly in structure, coverage and content in 2003/04. In addition, the definition of salary changed. This means that average salaries for 2003/04 and later years cannot be compared directly with those for earlier years. For the years up to 2002/03, salary represented the monies received in respect of institutional duties actually being paid on the date of the HESA staff count (31 July) or for those Who have left during the year, the salary on leaving, including any regular payments for additional duties, responsibility allowances or honoraria regardless of their source. In 2003/04, the salary represented the gross basic salary per annum, in pounds sterling as stated in the contract at the reference date of HESA's staff count or at the end date of the contract if earlier, excluding any regular payments for additional duties, responsibility allowances or honoraria, regardless of their source. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.
	(54) Including principal lecturers.
	Source:
	The Higher Education Statistics Agency's staff record. Covers staff in HE sector institutions.

Thomas Telford School

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what level of financial sponsorship is provided to Thomas Telford School by (a) the Mercers' Company and (b) Tarmac plc.

Jacqui Smith: Thomas Telford School, as a City Technology College, is legally an independent school, and so my Department does not hold details of the financial sponsorship provided to it. However, such information can be obtained from the school's annual accounts, which they are required to publish annually, available from Companies House for a nominal fee.

Vandalism

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the acts of vandalism which have been perpetrated (a) inside and (b) on the outside of her Department's buildings in the last 12 months.

Maria Eagle: The following table details the acts of vandalism which have been perpetrated (a) inside and (b) on the outside of the Department's buildings in the last 12 months.
	
		
			 Site Inside Outside 
		
		
			 Darlington None None 
			 London Four blocked toilets. Lift door scratched. None 
			 Runcorn None Two external windows broken. Perimeter fence damaged 
			 Sheffield None None

Youth Services

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding was available for youth services in (a) the constituency of Ruislip-Northwood, (b) the London borough of Hillingdon, (c) Greater London and (d) England in each of the last 10 years.

Maria Eagle: Youth services are funded through the local authority and information about the level of funding is collected by local education authority (LEA) area. This information has only been available separately since 2000. It is not possible to provide information about Youth Service funding below LEA level in order to show the funding for Ruislip-Northwood.
	Youth Service funding levels are as follows:
	
		
			 
			 Financial year England Greater London Hillingdon LEA 
		
		
			 200001 288,026,510 57,569,841 1,446,973 
			 200102 306,761,605 64,770,072 1,473,203 
			 200203 316,288,138 65,838,535 1,777,011 
			 200304 343,364,777 67,393,083 2,132,885 
			 200405 364,015,547 65,839,152 2,284,148 
			 200506 383,662,949 69,415,404 3,072,659 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The data are drawn from section 52 Budget statements submitted to the Department by all 150 local education authorities.
	2. The 200102 and 200203 figures also include any Local Authority Youth Service provision that contributed to the delivery of the Connexions Service plus any Connexions Service specific funding.
	3. 200506 data are subject to change by LEAs.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Administration Costs

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total administration costs for his core Department are; and whether these are regarded as (a) identifiable and (b) non-identifiable for the purposes of public expenditure statistical analyses.

Anne McGuire: The departmental report for 2005 (Cm 6539) contains administration costs for the years 19992000 to 200708 along with a breakdown by client group. In addition the most recent Public Expenditure Out-turn White Paper (Cm 6639) contains the provisional 200405 departmental administration costs out-turn.
	These costs include both identifiable and non-identifiable items for the purposes of public expenditure statistical analyses.

Attendance Allowance

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many care home residents in Scotland lost their entitlement to attendance allowance in each year since 2002 because their personal care costs were met under the free personal care arrangements; and what the financial effect on his Department was of this loss of entitlement.

Anne McGuire: The administration of attendance allowance is a matter for the chief executive of the Disability and Carers Service, Mr. Terry Moran. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Terry Moran
	In response to your recent Parliamentary Question, the Minister for Disabled People, Anne McGuire MP, promised you a substantive reply from the Chief Executive of the Disabled and Carers Service.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many care home residents in Scotland lost their entitlement to attendance allowance in each year since 2002 because their personal care costs were met under the free personal care arrangements; and what the financial effect on his Department was of this loss of entitlement.
	The requested information is not available and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost. I can however provide some general information about the position.
	The rules governing the payment of attendance allowance and the care component of disability living allowance preclude the payment of these benefits to people in care homes who have been receiving help with their care home costs from public funds for more than four weeks. Such help includes the 145 per week payments that local authorities in Scotland make to people aged 65 or over in care homes under the free personal care arrangements introduced by the Scottish Executive in July 2002.
	We estimate that since that date, receipt of those payments has resulted in the withdrawal of attendance allowance or the care component of disability living allowance from some 6,400 care home residents in Scotland. At current benefit rates, we estimate that maximum annual cost of continuing to pay the benefits to those residents would be about 20 million.
	I hope you find this information of use and I am sorry I cannot be more helpful.

Attendance Allowance

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time taken (a) to process a claim for attendance allowance and (b) to begin payments once a claim has been approved was in each of the last five years.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 2 February 2006
	The administration of attendance allowance is a matter for the chief executive of the Disability and Carers Service, Mr. Terry Moran. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Terry Moran
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average time taken (a) to process a claim for attendance allowance and (b) to begin payments once a claim has been approved was in each of the last five years.
	The Minister for Disabled People, Anne McGuire MP, promised you a substantive reply from the Chief Executive of the Disability and Carers Service.
	The information requested at part (a) of your question is in the following table:
	
		Average length of time in days to clear attendance allowance normal rules claims in each of the last five years
		
			  Actual average clearance time (in days) 
		
		
			 April 2000-March 2001 30.5 
			 April 2001-March 2002 27.1 
			 April 2002-March 2003 24.2 
			 April 2003-March 2004 20.8 
			 April 2004-March 2005 18.2 
			 April 2005-December 2005(55) (55)17.9 
		
	
	(55) Year to date information as at December 2005.
	The information requested at part (b) of your question is not available.
	I hope you find this information of use and I am sorry I cannot be more helpful.

Benefit Claimants

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claimed (a) incapacity benefit and (b) disability living allowance in Stroud constituency in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: The information is in the table.
	
		Incapacity benefit (IB) and disability living allowance (DLA) claimants, and disability living allowance (DLA) claimants, in the Stroud parliamentary constituency.
		
			 As at August each year: IB/SDA DLA 
		
		
			 1997 2,600 1,800 
			 1998 2,600 1,900 
			 1999 2,700 1,900 
			 2000 2,800 2,100 
			 2001 2,900 2,200 
			 2002 2,900 2,600 
			 2003 2,900 2,800 
			 2004 3,000 2,900 
			 2005 3,000 3,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. For incapacity benefit the parliamentary constituency figures for the years 1997 to 1998 have been produced using the five per cent data and have been rated up proportionally using the Great Britain WPLS 100 per cent. IB/SDA back-cast totals.
	2. For disability living allowance benefit the parliamentary constituency figures for the years 1997 to 2001 have been produced using the five percent. data and have been rated up proportionally using the Great Britain WPLS 100 per cent. DLA back-cast totals.
	3. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	4. IB/SDA 'Claimant' figures include all incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement allowance, including IB credits only cases.
	5. There will be an overlap between each years figures as claimants can receive both IB/SDA and DLA.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate, five percent. Samples and Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 percent. data.

Child Support Agency

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many full-time equivalent staff were employed by the Child Support Agency in March (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004 and (d) 2005.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Mr. Stephen Geraghty. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty
	In reply to your Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many full-time equivalent staff were employed by the Child Support Agency in (a) March 2002 (b) March 2003 (c) March 2004 and (d) March 2005.
	The table below contains the number of full/whole time equivalent staff in post in the months requested. The figures include fixed-term appointments and casual staff, but not Northern Ireland staff (who are part of the Northern Ireland Civil Service).
	Child Support Agency Staffing Figures at the 31st March year-end and at November 2005 are shown in the Table below.
	All of the increase between March and November 2005 is in frontline staff.
	
		
			  Full-time equivalent staff (Number) 
		
		
			 March 2002 10,690.59 
			 March 2003 11,256.42 
			 March 2004 10,819.53 
			 March 2005 9,784.26 
			 November 2005 10,480.01 
		
	
	I hope you find this answer useful.

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff were employed by the Child Support Agency at (a) 31 December 2004, (b) 31 March 2005, (c) 30 June 2005, (d) 30 September 2005 and (e) 31 December 2005; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff were employed by the Child Support Agency at (a) 31st December 2004 (b) 31st March 2005 (c) 30th June 2005 (d) 30 September 2005 and (e) 31st December 2005; and if he will make a statement.
	The information for 31st December 2005 is not yet available. The table below contains the number of full/whole time equivalent staff in post in the months requested. The figures include fixed-term appointments and temporary staff, but not Northern Ireland staff (who are part of the Northern Ireland Civil Service).
	
		
			 Period Full-time equivalent staff 
		
		
			 31 December 2004 9,809.96 
			 31 March 2005 9,784.26 
			 30 June 2005 9,827.08 
			 30 September 2005 10,072.55 
		
	
	I hope you find this information helpful

Community Languages

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether a staff survey has been conducted (a) in London and (b) in the UK on the number of community languages staff speak at work to assist customers.

Anne McGuire: No such survey has been conducted.

Departmental Assets

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the 10 most valuable (a) movable and (b) immovable assets owned by his Department.

Anne McGuire: The highest value assets on the fixed asset register for Departmental owned assets are leasehold improvements, which are pooled costs relating to the refurbishment of the Job Centre Plus offices. By the nature of pools, these assets will actually comprise of numerous classes of assets, such as building work, internal decoration and furniture and fittings.
	We have listed the 10 most valuable (a) movable and (b) immovable assets owned by the Department.
	
		(A) List of 10 most valuable movable assets, listed as unique assets on the fixed asset register
		
			 Description 000 
		
		
			 Hewlett Packard server 105 
			 Hewlett Packard server 105 
			 Hewlett Packard tape library 93 
			 Citroen mobile vehicle 74 
			 Compaq modular cabinet 72 
			 Peugeot Boxer mobile unit vehicle 71 
			 Peugeot Boxer mobile unit vehicle 70 
			 Peugeot Boxer mobile unit vehicle 67 
			 Peugeot Boxer mobile unit vehicle 66 
			 Siemens voice mail system 64 
		
	
	
		(B) List of 10 most valuable immovable assets, listed as unique assets on the fixed asset register
		
			 Description 000 Date capitalised 
		
		
			 Refurbishment work to Jobcentre Plus offices 188,845 October 2003 
			 Refurbishment work to Jobcentre Plus offices 80,645 October 2004 
			 Refurbishment work to Jobcentre Plus offices 41,943 October 2002 
			 Refurbishment work to Jobcentre Plus offices 24,772 October 2002 
			 Refurbishment work to Jobcentre Plus offices 7,452 October 2001 
			 Refurbishment work to Jobcentre Plus offices 5,487 October 2001 
			 Installation and cabling for IT assets 2,999  
			 Refurbishment work to Jobcentre Plus offices 2,381 October 2001 
			 Installation and cabling for IT assets 2,189  
			 Staff information system software development 1,917

Departmental Finance

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the real terms percentage increase in allocated resources for his Department (a) was for the period 199798 to 200405 and (b) is estimated to be between 200506 and 200708 (i) for each period and (ii) for each year.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001 from the Department of Social Security and parts of the former Department for Education and Employment including the Employment Service and has since undergone significant reorganisation of the Department and Machinery of Government changes. In 199899 there was also a change from cash to resource accounting.
	Comparable information is only available from 19992000 through to 200708 from the Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis 2005 (Cm 6521) available in the Library. The percentage increase for each year and for the periods quoted is detailed in the tables as follows. Allocated resources include both Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL) and Annually Managed Expenditure (AME). Please note figures in brackets denote a percentage decrease.
	
		
			  Percentage increase 
		
		
			 Actual  
			 19992000 0 
			 200001(56) 0.7 
			 200102 5.4 
			 200203 1.8 
			 200304 1.5 
			 200405 4.0 
			 Total for period 14.1 
			   
			 Estimated  
			 200506 0 
			 200607 (2.0) 
			 200708 2.4 
			 Total for period 0.4 
		
	
	(56) These figures relate to the period before the Department for Work and Pensions was created in June 2001. When the Department was created an exercise was carried out to put historical data from predecessor bodies onto the DWP Treasury Database in an amalgamated form.

Departmental Staff

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average number of staff employed at the Department was in each year from 199798 to 200506, including equivalent figures for the period before the Department was re-organised into its current form, broken down by (a) full-time equivalents and (b) overtime and temporary staff; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 28 November 2005
	The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001 from the Department of Social Security and parts of the former Department for Education and Employment, including the Employment Service. Information on the average number of staff and overtime and temporary staff in the Department in each year from 200001 to 200506 can be found in Table 6 of the Department for Work and Pensions Departmental Report 2005.
	Information on the average number of staff and overtime and temporary staff in the former Department of Social Security in each year from 199798 can be found in Table 10 of the Social Security Departmental Report 2001.
	Information on the average number of staff and overtime and temporary staff in the former Employment Service in each year from 199798 can be found in annex J of the Department for Education and Skills Departmental Report 2001.
	Each of the reports referred to is available in the Library.

Disability Discrimination Act

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) public bodies and (b) private companies which are compliant with the provisions (i) of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 and (ii) the provisions of the Act relating to disabled parking facilities.

Anne McGuire: It is too soon to make any estimates of the number of public bodies and private companies which are meeting their duties under the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 (DDA 2005), since the first duties under the Act were only recently introduced on 5 December 2005, and others do not come into force until at least 4 December 2006.
	As part of the Department for Work and Pensions research programme, the Department expects to undertake research in due course to ascertain how those with duties under the DDA 2005 respond to those duties.
	Estimates of the impact of the DDA 2005 and Regulations made under it on public bodies and private organisations have been published as regulatory impact assessments 1 and placed in the Library of this House.
	The DDA 2005 makes no provision in respect of disabled parking facilities.
	1 Disability Discrimination Act 2005regulatory impact assessment (revised following Royal Assent to the Disability Discrimination Bill on 7 April 2005).
	Disability Discrimination Act 2005Regulatory Impact Assessment Disability crimination (Questions and Replies) Order 2005.
	Disability Discrimination Act 2005Regulatory Impact Assessment The draft Disability Discrimination (Private Clubs etc.) Regulations 2005

Disability Discrimination Act

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many fines have been imposed on (a) public and (b) private bodies found to be non-compliant with the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005.

Anne McGuire: In general, any individual act of disability discrimination committed by a public or private body contrary to the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA), as amended by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 (DDA 2005), is a civil wrong which will give rise to a remedy which usually includes damages, rather than the imposition of a fine. The DDA 2005 did introduce one new criminal offence from 5 December 2005 relating to the publication of discriminatory advertisements for which a fine can be imposed. We have no knowledge of any such cases arising where the relevant offence has been committed and a fine imposed.

Disability Discrimination Act

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures are undertaken to determine compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act 2005; and by whom.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions regularly undertakes research into the responses of those with duties under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and expects to carry out further research in relation to duties under the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 (DDA 2005), which amended the DDA, in due course.
	However, whether those with duties under the DDA meet the requirements of the Act not to discriminate against an individual disabled person for a reason related to their disability is a matter to be determined on a case-by-case basis by courts or tribunals, as appropriate.
	The Disability Rights Commission has a role in supporting those with duties to meet those duties and also in assisting with enforcement of the Act. It may: support legal cases in certain circumstances; issue non-discrimination notices; enter into agreements in lieu of enforcement action; and conduct Formal Investigations. Later this year it will publish, subject to the approval of Parliament, a revised Code of Practice largely for those provisions of the DDA 2005 which will come into force on 4 December 2006 relating to the duties of service providers in both the public and private sectors.
	From 4 December 2006 most executive public bodies will be required to publish a Disability Equality Scheme which sets out how they intend to fulfil the various requirements of the Disability Equality Duty introduced by the DDA 2005. The Duty requires that the Scheme includes monitoring and assessment arrangements to measure the impact of a public body's policies, and that the Scheme is reviewed and revised at least every three years.

Disability Living Allowance

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of lowering the entitlement age for the higher rate of the mobility component of disability living allowance to two years old.

Anne McGuire: In April 2001 we changed the entitlement age limit from five to three years of age because medical advice is that age three is the earliest point at which it can be reasonably determined whether a child's inability, or virtual inability, to walk is the result of physical disability rather than late development. We have no plans to make further changes to the lower age limit for entitlement to the higher rate of the disability living allowance mobility component, therefore no estimate has been made of the costs.

Disabled Parents

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what his estimate is of the number of disabled parents in each region of the UK;
	(2)  what organisations that assist disabled parents are funded by his Department; and how much financial support was provided to each in the (a) 200405 and (b) 200506 financial year;
	(3)  what advice is offered by his Department to disabled parents concerning the benefits and support that is available to them.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 24 January 2006
	The Department for Work and Pensions is committed to providing accurate information on our benefits, programmes and services.
	The Directgov website for disabled people (www.direct.gov.uk/disability) is the central point for all information from Government, providing a single source of information on the full range of services for disabled people, including benefits and other financial support. All Departments contribute to the information and services for disabled people, which is now written and co-ordinated within the new Office for Disability Issues (ODI). The Directgov website also features sections on Parenting and Education, through which information on benefits and services can also be accessed.
	The Disability and Carers Service (DCS) does not specifically target information at disabled parents; however, they have an outreach programme of local, regional and national events involving dedicated officers visiting representatives from external customer organisations and groups.
	The purpose of the programme is to ensure that a consistent corporate message is communicated to all customer representative groups and organisations, and to provide accurate information on our benefits and services.
	There is no current provision for this Department to provide core funding to external organisations. However, work is under way on a project to research information and advice required by disabled people and review existing cross-Government provision. The ODI will work across Government to develop proposals to improve the provision of information and advice about services to disabled people.
	The information is in the following table.
	
		Number of disabled parents, including those with limiting longstanding illnesses, in the UK by region
		
			  Million Percentage 
		
		
			 North East 0.07 5 
			 North West and Merseyside 0.19 14 
			 Yorkshire and Number 0.13 9 
			 East Midlands 0.09 7 
			 West Midlands 0.12 9 
			 Eastern 0.12 9 
			 London 0.15 11 
			 South East 0.13 10 
			 South West 0.09 7 
			 Wales 0.09 6 
			 Scotland 0.13 9 
			 Northern Ireland 0.05 4 
			 UK 1.4 100 
		
	
	Note:
	Estimates relate to the number of disabled people, including people with limiting, longstanding illnesses, who have at least one dependent child.
	Source:
	Family Resources Survey, 200304. United Kingdom

Early Retirement

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many departmental employees have taken early retirement due to ill-health in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions takes seriously its responsibilities for managing attendance. We have an attendance management policy in place which was commended by the NAO as meeting best practice. The policy includes guidance for line managers on when ill-health retirement should be considered. Ill-health retirement (IHR) is considered when a member of staff has a recognised health condition which is likely to be permanent and which prevents them from carrying out their normal duties. The criteria for IHR are set by the Principle Civil Service Pension Scheme and were considerably tightened when the pension scheme arrangements were last reviewed. Although applications for IHR are made by managers or staff, decisions are made by the PCSPS medical adviser.
	The Department was created in 2001 and figures on the numbers of employees taking ill-health retirement since then are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Period (year ending) Number of IHR's FTE(57) 
		
		
			 March 2002 276 247.58 
			 March 2003 236 207.45 
			 March 2004 193 172.36 
			 March 2005 210 185.92 
		
	
	(57) Full time equivalenttakes into account part-time working patterns

Freedom of Information Act

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what total sum has been received by his Department for the provision of information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in its first year of operation.

Anne McGuire: Nil.
	The Freedom of Information Act allows for public authorities to determine when the cost of processing a request will exceed the appropriate limit, which for central Government is set at 600 and for the wider public sector 450. In this instance the public authority may decide to approach the applicant to help them refine their request and where possible to bring it under the appropriate limit. Alternatively, public authorities may charge the applicant the cost of processing the request. There is, however, no obligation for departments to provide information if the cost of processing the request exceeds the appropriate limit.
	Public authorities may also charge for disbursements when handling requests where it is deemed appropriate. Further information on the FOI fees regime can be found on the DCA website at http://www.foi.gov.uk/feesguide.htm.

Fuel Costs (Pensioners)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans his Department has to increase the 200 winter heating allowance for pensioners.

Stephen Timms: We have no plans to do so. The winter fuel payment has risen from 20 in winter 199798 to 200 from winter 200001 and to 300 for those aged 80 or over from winter 200304. It is a significant contribution towards fuel costs.

Gas Prices

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if the Government will increase (a) state pensions and (b) the winter fuel allowance to take account of increases in gas prices.

Stephen Timms: The state pension is increased annually to take account of price inflation, including gas and electricity. The winter fuel payment has risen from 20 in winter 199798 to 200 from winter 200001 and to 300 for those aged 80 or over from winter 200304. We are therefore already providing a significant contribution towards fuel costs. The Chancellor announced in the pre-Budget report that the winter fuel payment will continue at the current rate for the remainder of this Parliament.

Incapacity Benefit

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were claiming incapacity benefit in each ward in Hartlepool in the last period for which data was available.

Anne McGuire: The information is in the table.
	
		Incapacity benefit and severe disability allowance claimants in the parliamentary constituency of Hartlepool, broken down by Ward: May 2005
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Hartlepool total 7,575 
			 Brinkburn 465 
			 Brus 620 
			 Dyke House 695 
			 Elwick 60 
			 Fens 435 
			 Grange 355 
			 Greatham 125 
			 Hart 295 
			 Jackson 605 
			 Owton 570 
			 Park 385 
			 Rift House 305 
			 Rossmere 500 
			 St. Hilda 765 
			 Seaton 320 
			 Stranton 650 
			 Throston 425 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Wards are based on Census Wardsthose current as at April 2003.
	2. All benefit counts at ward level are rounded to a multiple of five to protect the confidentiality of individual claimants.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, Department for Work and Pensions Longitudinal Survey 100 per cent. data; May 2005.

Incapacity Benefit

Jeremy Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employees of the ambulance service on long-term sick leave are claiming incapacity benefit.

Anne McGuire: The information is not available.

Jobseekers

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action he is taking in conjunction with Jobcentre Plus to tackle recent increases in the claimant count of jobseekers.

Margaret Hodge: Despite the recent increases, claimant unemployment remains at historically low levels. Jobcentre Plus will continue to ensure that all jobseekers fulfil their responsibilities to seek and be available for work, are offered the assistance they need to find work and receive the benefits to which they are entitled. The Department will continue to monitor movements in the claimant count and identify whether further action is required.

Means-tested Benefits

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to increase awareness among entitled people of the means-tested benefits for which they are eligible.

Stephen Timms: We want everybody to claim the benefits to which they are entitled. Information on the range of benefits we administer is widely available.
	The Department is currently, with local authorities support, running publicity and marketing take up campaigns this winter, aimed at encouraging people who are entitled to council tax benefit to make a claim.
	In addition, the Pension Service has written to every pensioner household informing them about pension credit and there have been a number of campaign initiatives such as the You're Missing Out direct mailings and adverts in national newspapers. The Pension Service's local service are also visiting around 23,000 pensioners households each week to offer a full benefit entitlement check.
	Since September 2005, existing pension credit customers were contacted and invited to claim council tax benefit and/or housing benefit. From December 2005 customers who contact the pension credit application line to make an application for pension credit have been invited to claim these benefits as well.

Media Monitoring

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on media monitoring activities in each of the last eight financial years.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed on 8 June 2001 from parts of the former Department of Social Security, the former Department for Education and Employment and the Employment Service. Information prior to 2001 is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department paid for its Media Monitoring Unit service by annual subscription.
	
		
			  Amount () 
		
		
			 200304 54,317 
			 200405 57,575 
		
	
	The Department paid Government News Network for regional cuttings by annual subscription:
	
		
			  Amount () 
		
		
			 200304 150,000 
			 200405 150,000 
		
	
	The Department uses Durrants (formerly Xtreme) to provide national cuttings. The costs for this vary depending on the number and size of the cuttings. The amounts paid for the last two financial years are:
	
		
			  Amount () 
		
		
			 200304 95,890 
			 200405 82,679 
		
	
	The Department's rules only allow for financial records to be kept for three years. (The current year and the last two tax years.) Information for periods before the 200304 tax year can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Post Office Card Account

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the options available to benefit recipients and pensioners who wish to continue to have their money paid over the counter in cash at a post office branch when the contract to provide the Post Office Card Account ends in 2010.

James Plaskitt: Customers will still be able to use the Post Office to collect their benefit or pension if they wish by using a bank or building society account there are some 25 different accounts can be accessed at post office branches now, and we hope there could be more in the future.
	The table sets out those accounts which can currently be used at post office branches.
	The very small minority of people unable to operate any account will be paid by cheque, which may be cashed at the Post Office.
	
		
			 Bank/building society Current account Basic account 
		
		
			 Abbey No Yes 
			 Alliance and Leicester Yes Yes 
			 Bank of Ireland Yes Yes 
			 Bank of Scotland No Yes 
			 Barclays Yes Yes 
			 cahoot Yes No 
			 Clydesdale Bank Yes Yes 
			 Co-operative Bank Yes Yes 
			 First Direct (Scotland only) Yes No 
			 First Trust No Yes 
			 Halifax No Yes 
			 HSBC No Yes 
			 Lloyds TSB Yes Yes 
			 Nationwide (building society) Yes Yes 
			 Nat West No Yes 
			 Northern Bank No Yes 
			 Royal Bank of Scotland No Yes 
			 smile Yes No 
			 Ulster No Yes 
			 Yorkshire Bank No Yes

Post Office Card Account

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answers to the hon. Members for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) and for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander) of 31 January 2006, Official Report, columns 4435W, on the Post Office card account, what provision will be made to accommodate the needs of pensioners and other benefit claimants holding Post Office card accounts when the current contract expires; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: Government funding for the Post Office card account will end in March 2010 as always planned. By then we expect most card account customers will have moved to having their benefit or pension paid into a bank account.
	Customers will still be able to use the Post Office to collect their benefit or pension if they wish by using a bank account, some 25 different bank accounts can be accessed at post office branches now, and we hope there could be more in the future.
	We will aim to develop a joint strategy with the Post Office to move customers from the Post Office card account between now and 2010. Our priority will be to ensure that this is a straightforward process for the customers. I understand the Post Office is developing new banking and savings products which may be suitable for some existing Post Office card account customers.
	We would like every DWP customer who currently has a Post Office card account to do their banking at the Post Office if that is what they want. There is no reason why the viability of the post offices should be threatened if customers continue to draw cash at the Post Office after moving on from the Post Office card account.

Post Office Card Account

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 6 February 2006, Official Report, columns 5978W, if he will list the 25 different bank accounts referred to; and whether each allows customers to make at least 52 withdrawals each year at post offices without incurring bank charges.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 13 February 2006
	Customers who hold basic bank accounts with one of a wide range of high street banks can use any post office branch to make an unlimited number of cash withdrawals free of charge. Such banks are: Abbey; Alliance and Leicester; Bank of Ireland; Bank of Scotland; Barclays; Clydesdale Bank; Co-operative Bank; First Trust; Halifax; HSBC; Lloyds TSB; Nationwide; NatWest; Northern Bank; Royal Bank of Scotland; Ulster Bank and Yorkshire Bank. These accounts and their features are listed in the FSA leaflet Basic Bank Accountsyour questions answered.
	Some banks enable their current account customers to withdraw cash over the counter at post office branches, free of charge and without restriction on the number of withdrawals. Banks which offer this service include: Alliance and Leicester; Bank of Ireland; Barclays; Clydesdale Bank; Co-operative Bank; First Direct (Scotland only), Lloyds TSB, Nationwide Building Society and the internet banks smile and cahoot.

Private Members' Bills

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list those Private Members' Bills introduced under (a) Standing Order No. 14(6), (b) Standing Order No.23 and (c) Standing Order No.57 which were (i) supported and (ii) opposed by his Department in each session since 199798.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed at the start of the 200102 parliamentary session. Information from that period to the end of the 200405 session is provided.
	It is not possible to state whether or not the Department supported Bills that did not complete a Second Reading. Only one of the Bills listed as follows completed its Second Reading. The Department's position in relation to the one Bill that did complete its Second Reading is included next to its entry in the list.
	Bills introduced under Standing Order No. 14(6)
	Disabled people (Duties of public authorities)Bridget Prentice;
	Older people's commissionersIan Lucas;
	Council Tax benefit (Entitlement information)Tony Baldry;
	Rights of saversSir Malcolm RifkindOpposed by the department.
	Bills Introduced under Standing Order No.23
	Needle stick injuryLaura Moffat;
	Older people's rights commissionerDavid Taylor;
	Pensioner trustees and final paymentsMr. Jim Cunningham;
	Health and safety at work (Offences)Mr. Andrew Love;
	Health and safety at work (Amendment)Lawrie Quinn
	Pensions (Clawbacks)Mr. Kerry Pollard;
	Universal funded pensionsMr. Peter Lilley.
	Bills introduced under Standing Order No.57
	Health and safety at work (Offences)Lawrie Quinn;
	Pensions (Winding up)Mr. Frank Field.

Statutory Sick Pay

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many personal capability assessments were conducted pursuant to the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 1999 in relation to those claiming statutory sick pay in each of the last three years.

Anne McGuire: The personal capability assessment is relevant to people claiming or receiving incapacity benefit, severe disablement allowance, or income support on the basis of incapacity. The personal capability assessment does not apply to statutory sick pay because, in that instance, incapacity for work is judged in relation to the job that the person has been doing under their contract of employment.

Sunset Clauses

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is in respect of the use of sunset clauses in legislation.

Stephen Timms: The appropriateness of a sunset clause for the whole or part of any proposed legislation is considered on a case by case basis. It is also addressed when a regulatory impact assessment relating to legislation is being prepared.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Airguns

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to reduce the incidence of attacks on animals by use of airguns.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 2 February 2006
	We are determined to tackle all aspects of misuse of air weapons and are further tightening controls through provisions in the Violent Crime Reduction Bill which will increase the age limit for owning an air weapon to 18 and introduce a new offence of firing beyond the boundaries of premises. We believe it is important to control the easy availability of air weapons and there are also provisions in the Bill to restrict the sale of air weapons by way of trade or business to registered firearms dealers approved by the police and to require the transfer of the weapon to be on a face to face basis.

Animal Cruelty

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were convicted of cruelty towards animals (a) in Westmorland and Lonsdale and (b) England in each year since 1997.

Fiona Mactaggart: Persons found guilty for various offences connected with animal cruelty are shown in the table for South Lakeland petty sessional area and England, 1997 to 2004. It is not possible to separately identify Westmorland as the data is not collected at this level of detail.
	Statistics on court proceedings for 2005 will be available in the autumn.
	
		Number of offenders(58) found guilty for offences relating to animal cruelty in England, 19972004
		
			 Number of offenders 
			  Statute 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 108.02 Protection of Animals Act, 191 1 (as amended) 769 797 736 783 708 704 730 734 
			 108.03 Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 Sec 8 5 2 1 4 3 2  1 
			 108.04 Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925 
			 108.06 Protection of Animals Act, 1934 4 4 - 1   1 5 
			 108.08 Docking and Nicking of Horses Act, 19492 
			 108.09 Pet Animals Act, 1951 3 6 9 12 8 5 6 2 
			 108.10 Cockfighting Act, 1952 
			 108.11 Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act, 1954 23 20 20 14 11 10 12 16 
			 108.12 Animal Health Act, 1981, Sees 4042, 46 and 49 and Orders made under Sees 8, 9, 37, 38, 39 and 43 61 72 49 22 22 30 19 32 
			 108.13 Slaughterhouses Act, 1974  3 2   1 1 1 
			 108.14 Abandonment of Animals Act, 1960, Sec 1 18 19 12 13 19 19 14 14 
			 108.16 Animal  Animal Products (Import and Export)Regulations 1988  4 1  
			 108.17 Animals (Cruel Poisons) Act, 1962 1
			 108.18 Animal Boarding Establishments Act, 1963 1 5 6 4 8 3 2  
			 108.19 Riding Establishments Acts, 1964 and 1970  1  2 1 1   
			 108.20 Slaughter of Poultry Act, 1967 2 2 2  
			 108.21 Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1968, Sees 1,2 and 6 7 5 9 9 3 2 2 9 
			 108.22 Protection of Badgers Act, 1992 (except Sec 13) 25 1 8 4 5 5 1 3 
			 108.23 Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 Sec 9 32 3  1 
			 108.24 Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 Sec 11  3 2  
			 108.25 Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 3 6  4 4 3 5 3 
			 II.07, 111.08 Breeding of Dogs Acts 1973 and 1991 3 2 3 2 1   1 
			 III.22,111.23 Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999 
			 110 Diseases of Animals Act 58 66 49 27 124 54 69 54 
			 190 (all) Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Sees 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 17 52 35 116 71 41 39 140 65 
			  Total 1,037 1,049 1,024 974 961 885 1,003 941 
		
	
	(58) Principal offence basis.

Animal Cruelty

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were convicted of cruelty towards animals in (a) Tamworth constituency and (b) the West Midlands in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: Persons found guilty for various offences connected with animal cruelty are shown in the tables for Staffordshire and the West Midlands police force areas, 1997 to 2004. It is not possible to separately identify Tamworth constituency as the data is not collected at this level of detail.
	Statistics on court proceedings for 2005 will be available in the autumn.
	
		Number of offenders(59) found guilty for offences relating to animal cruelty in Staffordshire Police Force Area, 1997 to 2004
		
			 Number of offenders 
			 Statute 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Protection of Animals Act, 1911 (as amended) 28 9 4 (60) 14 7 5 10 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 Sec 8(60) 
			 Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925(60) 
			 Protection of Animals Act, 1934(60) 
			 Docking and Nicking of Horses Act, 1949(60) 
			 Pet Animals Act, 1951(60) 
			 Cockfighting Act, 1952(60) 
			 Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act, 1954  2  (60)   1  
			 Animal Health Act, 1981, Sees 4042, 46 and 49 and Orders made under Sees 8, 9, 37, 38, 39 and 43 1 2  (60) 
			 Slaughterhouses Act, 1974  2  (60) 
			 Abandonment of Animals Act, 1960 Sec 1(60) 
			 Animal and Animal Products (Import and Export) Regulations 1988(60) 
			 Animals (Cruel Poisons) Act, 1962(60) 
			 Animal Boarding Establishments Act, 1963(60) 
			 Riding Establishments Acts, 1964 and 1970(60) 
			 Slaughter of Poultry Act, 1967(60) 
			 Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1968, Secs 1, 2 and 6(60) 
			 Protection of Badgers Act, 1992 (except Sec 13) 1   (60)1 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 Sec 9(60) 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 Sec 11 
			 Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996  1  (60) 
			 Breeding of Dogs Acts 1973 and 1991 1   (60) 
			 Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999(60) 
			 Diseases of Animals Act 13 11 3 (60) 1  2  
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Secs 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 17 14 12 3 (60) 1  2  
			 Total 58 39 10 (60) 16 7 10 11 
		
	
	(59) Principal offence basis.
	(60) Figures for Staffordshire for 2000 are not available. Staffordshire Police Force were only able to supply a small sample of data for magistrates courts proceedings during 2000.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders have been issued to citizens living in Tamworth constituency in each month since their introduction; and how many of them were breached in each month.

Hazel Blears: Data on antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) are not available below local authority area (LAA) level. A table is available on the Crime Reduction website at www.crimereduction.gov.uk giving the number of ASBOs issued in England and Wales where restrictions have been imposed in LAAs.
	The Home Office Court Proceedings Database holds breach proceedings only where there has been a conviction. These data are available at Criminal Justice System area level only.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recipients of an antisocial behaviour order have been reconvicted of a criminal offence within two years.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not available.
	The Home Office's public service agreement (PSA) five specifies re-offending targets in terms of a reduction in the re-offending rate, the start point of which is an offender being discharged from a custodial sentence or starting a community sentence.
	Antisocial behaviour orders, which are civil orders not criminal penalties, are not routinely measured. National re-offending rates are published annually to monitor the Home Office's progress against PSA five. The most recent data are published in 'Adult re-offending: results from the 2002 cohort'. Home Office Statistical Bulletin 25/05. This is available on the Home Office's website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/hosbpubs1.html.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many anti-social behaviour orders have been issued;
	(2)  how many people were jailed for a breach of their anti-social behaviour order in each year since 1999;
	(3)  how many anti-social behaviour orders have been breached in each year since 1999;

Hazel Blears: The number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued, as reported to the Home Office, up to 30 June 2005 (latest available) is 6,497.
	ASBO breach data are currently available from one June 2000 to 31 December 2003 for ASBOs issued since one June 2000. The available information is given in the table.
	
		The number of antisocial behaviour orders breached, as reported to the Home Office, by period and custodial sentence resulting, from 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2003(61)England and Wales
		
			  Total breached Custodial sentence given 
		
		
			 Jun 2000 to December 2000 14 4 
			 2001 118 60 
			 2002 240 101 
			 2003 609 297 
			 Jun 2000 to December 2003 793 437 
		
	
	(61) Breaches and custodial sentences are counted In this table on a persons basis, i.e. where the order has been breached or custodial sentence given on more than one occasion within the same period, a person is counted once only within that period.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many antisocial behaviour orders were (a) issued and (b) breached in 2004 by each London borough;
	(2)  how many antisocial behaviour orders made during (a) 2004 and (b) 2005 an individual support order was attached.

Hazel Blears: A table giving a breakdown by the local government authority area in which prohibitions are imposed within antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) is available on the Crime Reduction website at www.crimereduction.gov.uk. This table gives data by year since ASBOs were introduced up to 30 June 2005 (latest available).
	ASBO breach data are currently available from 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2003 for ASBOs issued since 1 June 2000. However, the data are available at Criminal Justice System area level only.
	The number of Individual Support Orders (ISOs) issued, as reported to the Home Office, in 2004 is seven. From January to June 2005 16 had been issued.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the reasons for the differences in the number of antisocial behaviour orders issued in each police force; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: There are differences in the number of antisocial behaviour orders issued in each criminal justice area (coterminous with police force areas). This is because it is up to local agencies to decide on the most appropriate intervention to tackle antisocial behaviour in their area based on their knowledge of what works best locally. The key issue is whether antisocial behaviour is being reduced on the ground, not which measure is used to achieve this.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to collect data on the number of antisocial behaviour orders that are issued to individuals with (a) disabilities and (b) mental illnesses.

Hazel Blears: We have no such plans at present. Information is not collected centrally about the characteristics or circumstances of persons issued with an antisocial behaviour order.

Charity Commission

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent by the Charity Commission on interim (a) managers and (b) receivers of charities in each of the last five years; and what the (i) average, (ii) upper and (iii) lower decile spending per charity was in each year.

Paul Goggins: This is a matter for the Charity Commission as the Government Department responsible for the regulation of charities in England and Wales. The Executive Director of Legal and Charity Services at the Charity Commission will write to the hon. Member and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

Child Curfew Orders

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many child curfew orders have been issued in each local authority area in England and Wales.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		Persons sentenced and given curfew orders by police force area aged 1017 years, 2004
		
			 Police force area Sentenced Offenders curfew orders 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 1,694 73 
			 Bedfordshire 920 77 
			 Cambridgeshire 928 31 
			 Cheshire 1,588 89 
			 City of London 2 0 
			 Cleveland 1,257 72 
			 Cumbria 1,119 50 
			 Derbyshire 1,653 63 
			 Devon and Cornwall 2,197 25 
			 Dorset 763 29 
			 Durham 1,249 71 
			 Essex 2,501 110 
			 Gloucestershire 719 55 
			 Greater Manchester 7,159 409 
			 Hampshire 4,023 146 
			 Hertfordshire 1,403 104 
			 Humberside 2,185 99 
			 Kent 2,619 72 
			 Lancashire 2,972 145 
			 Leicestershire 1,800 76 
			 Lincolnshire 939 1 
			 Merseyside 3,776 157 
			 Metropolitan Police 11,687 421 
			 Norfolk 984 42 
			 North Yorkshire 1,135 52 
			 Northamptonshire 578 0 
			 Northumbria 4,153 42 
			 Nottinghamshire 2,103 104 
			 South Yorkshire 2,515 130 
			 Staffordshire 1,811 56 
			 Suffolk 1,524 40 
			 Surrey 956 26 
			 Sussex 1,955 91 
			 Thames Valley 1,987 83 
			 Warwickshire 594 23 
			 West Mercia 1,961 62 
			 West Midlands 6,683 282 
			 West Yorkshire 5,126 340 
			 Wiltshire 954 38 
			 Dyfed-Powys 642 4 
			 Gwent 1,266 24 
			 North Wales 1,349 96 
			 South Wales 2,759 140 
			 Total (England and Wales) 96,188 4,050 
		
	
	Source:
	RDS-NOMS

Child Protection

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will issue guidance to (a) the police and (b) the Crown Prosecution Service, on how long an individual may be formally investigated under child protection legislation, before being (i) informed of the issues in question and (ii) charged or the investigation closed;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the safeguards for individuals under investigation under child protection legislation; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 9 February 2006
	The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) and the accompanying codes of practice, provide that an arrested person may be detained without charge for the purposes of investigating an offence for up to 24-hours initially, extended up to 36-hours by an officer of superintendent rank or above. The police may apply to a magistrate to authorise detention without charge for up to a maximum period of 96-hours.
	The detained person may be issued bail at any time during this process to enable the investigation to continue. There is no limit to the number of times the person may be released subject to bail or be detained for further questioning provided that the total period in custody does not exceed the relevant authorised period of detention. When the officer in charge of the investigation considers that there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction, he must inform the custody officer without delay and a decision taken on whether the detained person should be charged or referred to the prosecutor for charge.
	In November 2005 the Department for Education Skills published guidance on dealing with allegations of abuse against teachers and other staff, which was developed in co-operation with the Home Office and Crown Prosecution Service. The guidance is intended to provide effective protection for children, but at the same time to support school staff by ensuring that cases are dealt with as fairly and quickly as possible. It includes indicative target timescales for different parts of the process.
	The Government plans to extend this approach to cover people who work with children in other settings. Implementation will be overseen by the Local Safeguarding Children Boards, to be set up in all local authority areas by April 2006. The guidance can be found at:
	www.dfes.gov.uk/teachernet/childprotection.

Child Protection

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women under investigation by the West Yorkshire police force under child protection legislation have not been (i) informed of the issues in question and (ii) charged.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 9 February 2006
	The chief constable is responsible for the day-to-day operational management of the force. You may therefore wish to redirect your query to him.

Clive Hayes

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate the circumstances which led to (a) the late Clive Hayes being risk-assessed as being suitable for placement in open conditions at Leyhill Prison and (b) the decision to release Mr. Hayes while he was serving a life sentence; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: There are no plans at this stage to conduct an investigation into the decisions taken in relation to Mr. Hayes' release or his transfer to open conditions. However, I can say that his case is being reviewed by the probation service in line with the processes in place for addressing those cases where an offender has been charged with a serious further offence. This review will take place despite the fact that Mr. Hayes was not charged with a further offence prior to committing suicide.
	It would be inappropriate to address the circumstances leading to Mr. Hayes' transfer to open conditions and his release in 1995. However, it is the case that most lifers normally spend some time in open conditions in preparation for possible release. The process for transferring a lifer to open conditions involves the independent Parole Board considering a comprehensive range risk assessments from a range of prison and other staff covering the lifer's offence, risk factors and progress during sentence. The panel's advice is then considered by the Secretary of State who will take the final decision on the matter. That process was followed in 1993 in relation to Mr. Hayes' transfer to Leyhill open prison.
	The responsibility for Mr. Hayes' release in 1995 was a matter for the independent Parole Board, not the Secretary of State. The main criterion governing the Parole Board's consideration of his case was whether it was necessary for the protection of the public that he should continue to be confined. The panel that considered his case in 1995 clearly took the view that the level of risk of harm was acceptable and directed his release on life licence.

Closing the Gap Report

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2006, Official Report, column 1266W, on the Closing the Gap report, whether (a) ministers and (b) officials provided comment to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary as a result of the briefing on Closing the Gap prior to 13 September 2005.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 20 January 2006
	Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary sought and received comments from various sources as they finalised the Closing the Gap report. These were taken into account as appropriate prior to publication on 13 September 2005.

Cocaine

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to reduce imports of cocaine (a) from Jamaica by air and (b) from South America by ship; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of such steps.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK Government initiated Operation Airbridge in June 2002 with the aim of achieving a significant reduction in cocaine smuggling by couriers by measures such as outward passenger screening. HMRC worked closely with the Jamaican Constabulary Force and the measures taken, together with the introduction of a visa regime have contributed to a substantial reduction in the number of couriers from Jamaica targeting the UK.
	The UK Government have supported efforts to improve drug detection in South American states by providing equipment and trainingfor example in the identification of shipping containers that may be used to conceal cocaine. I cannot give further details as to do so would prejudice law enforcement objectives and international relations. The government's approach has produced some good results, including in the first 10 months of 2005 working with international partners to take out almost 30 tonnes of cocaine destined for the European market.

Community Supervision and Support Centres

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will announce his decision on the locations of the two proposed new women's Community Supervision and Support Centres announced in 2005.

Fiona Mactaggart: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced in March 2005 that 9.15 million would be devoted over a four year period to establish new initiatives to tackle women's offending in the community. In December 2005, Ministers subsequently approved the Together Women Programme being run via two demonstration projects within the two Regional Offender Manager regions of Yorkshire and Humberside and the North West.
	The Regional Offender Managers for the regions have been informed of the decision and a formal announcement will be made once proposals for the two projects have further been developed.

Community Support Officers

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police community support officers have been introduced in (a) Uxbridge and (b) the London borough of Hillingdon; and what assessment he has made of their impact on crime and antisocial behaviour.

Hazel Blears: At the end of September 2005 the London borough of Hillingdon Operational Command Unit (OCU) had 49 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs). Information is only collected at OCU level and is not available for Uxbridge. The deployment of PCSOs within Hillingdon is an operational matter for the Borough Commander (Chief Supt. Mark Toland). Their deployment across London is a matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.
	A National Evaluation of Community Support Officers (Home Office Research Study 297) was published on 25 January. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library. PCSOs have been well received by the public. They are helping to restore respect in local communities by providing reassurance and tackling antisocial behaviour and low level crime.

Convictions

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions were secured by (a) the Metropolitan Police Force, (b) Greater Manchester Police, (c) West Midlands Police, (d) Merseyside Police and (e) West Yorkshire Police for (i) commercial robbery and (ii) cash in transit crimes in (A) 2003, (B) 2004 and (C) 2005; and how many incidents of each type of crime were recorded by each force in each year.

Hazel Blears: Information on convictions is not available as the court proceedings database does not break down data for different types of robbery offence.
	Data on incidents is not available. The available information relates to the number of recorded offences of robbery of business property and is given in the table. It is not possible to identify cash in transit robberies from the recorded crime data series.
	
		Recorded offences of robbery of business property
		
			 Number of offences 
			 Police force area 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Metropolitan police 3,545 3,163 2,226 
			 Greater Manchester 1,233 1,172 1,296 
			 West Midlands 1,020 900 863 
			 Merseyside 463 545 528 
			 West Yorkshire 493 427 298

Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, of 4 October 2005 on behalf of Mohamed Ali Sharif (DoB 20/1/1965), husband of Mariam Mahamoud (Home Office Reference MO598z or M1172937).

Kim Howells: I have been asked to reply.
	UKvisas, the department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with responsibility for entry clearance matters arising overseas, replied to my right hon. Friend on 9 February.

Crime

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to allow local authorities to close telephone boxes at night if they are being used by drug dealers.

Paul Goggins: There are currently no plans to give local authorities powers to close telephone boxes that may be used by drug dealers. The major telephone companies employ police liaison officers who work closely with individual police forces to deal with problems of criminality associated with the use of public telephone boxes.

Crime Detection Rates

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what crime detection rate for offences of (a) violence against the person, (b) sexual offences, (c) robberies, (d) burglaries and (e) theft of a vehicle was recorded in (i) Greater London and (ii) Uxbridge constituency in each year since 1995.

Hazel Blears: The available information relates to the Metropolitan police force area and the basic command unit (BCU) of Hillingdon. Smaller area data are not collected centrally.
	Data collection at BCU level began in the financial year 19992000 when figures for six key offence groups were collected. Initially total burglary was not included and only became available from 200001. Information is given in the following table.
	
		Metropolitan police detection rates (percentage)
		
			  1995 1996 1997 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 65 62 70 
			 Sexual Offences 58 54 61 
			 Robbery 18 22 24 
			 Burglary 22 21 23 
			 Theft of a motor vehicle 13 12 12 
		
	
	
		
			  199899 19992000 200001 200102 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 44 31 28 26 
			 Sexual Offences 42 32 31 32 
			 Robbery 16 12 12 11 
			 Burglary 13 10 10 10 
			 Theft of a motor vehicle 10 8 9 9 
		
	
	Note:
	Break in series due to expanded offence coverage and revised counting rules which came into effect on 1 April 1998. Figures are therefore not directly comparable with those for earlier years.
	
		
			  200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 24 26 43 
			 Sexual Offences 33 34 35 
			 Robbery 13 12 15 
			 Burglary 13 12 13 
			 Theft of a motor vehicle 9 8 9 
		
	
	Note:
	The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002. Figures are therefore not directly comparable with those for earlier years.
	
		Hillingdon (basic command unit) detection rates (percentage)
		
			  19992000 200001 200102 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 26 23 21 
			 Sexual Offences 35 34 30 
			 Robbery 9 8 8 
			 Burglary n/a 6 9 
			 Theft of a motor vehicle 7 8 7 
		
	
	
		
			  200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 23 26 50 
			 Sexual Offences 22 31 32 
			 Robbery 10 17 17 
			 Burglary 10 10 11 
			 Theft of a motor vehicle 8 6 6 
		
	
	Note:
	The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002. Figures are therefore not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

Crime Statistics

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the (a) number of burglaries and (b) percentage annual change in the number of burglaries in (i) England and (ii) each English police force in each year from 199091 to 200506; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is given in the tables.
	
		Table 1: Recorded offences of burglary in England1990 to 200102
		
			 Number of offences 
			 Police force area 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 26,388 33,961 43,163 40,655 37,397 34,111 
			 Bedfordshire 10,809 12,873 15,775 15,596 12,864 11,026 
			 Cambridgeshire 8,361 11,897 14,383 15,023 14,099 14,267 
			 Cheshire 13,555 16,537 21,766 22,034 19,248 18,155 
			 Cleveland 16,559 17,178 20,504 18,738 18,428 23,536 
			 Cumbria 7,710 10,826 11,673 10,733 10,066 9,422 
			 Derbyshire 12,527 18,500 22,225 25,612 24,049 19,875 
			 Devon and Cornwall 21,758 25,708 28,728 32,578 30,266 26,400 
			 Dorset 7,625 9,287 9,957 9,625 9,372 12,347 
			 Durham 11,312 13,565 13,486 13,677 12,524 15,463 
			 Essex 19,843 24,980 26,497 27,149 23,639 19,804 
			 Gloucestershire 9,578 12,601 16,405 17,294 15,844 13,872 
			 Greater Manchester 87,855 97,715 103,390 97,850 91,077 85,848 
			 Hampshire 25,531 32,003 34,533 33,066 29,600 24,726 
			 Hertfordshire 8,660 10,890 12,427 13,419 12,100 11,318 
			 Humberside 27,361 32,949 38,954 48,031 43,965 39,113 
			 Kent 19,676 26,535 31,099 30,743 26,871 33,865 
			 Lancashire 21,635 25,045 27,480 29,550 27,151 29,845 
			 Leicestershire 16,057 21,526 23,251 25,210 26,109 25,487 
			 Lincolnshire 8,237 8,991 10,990 13,008 11,221 12,243 
			 London, City of 983 1,070 875 778 675 712 
			 Merseyside 33,822 33,609 34,624 33,688 33,042 34,497 
			 Metropolitan Police 173,247 191,482 191,880 174,770 164,641 171,540 
			 Norfolk 12,524 15,336 17,027 18,178 13,931 13,097 
			 Northamptonshire 9,103 12,148 13,115 15,944 14,521 14,004 
			 Northumbria 54,746 66,101 66,072 63,007 57,207 52,870 
			 North Yorkshire 9,516 12,338 15,610 16,275 16,694 16,641 
			 Nottinghamshire 24,201 30,568 36,374 40,038 34,639 37,932 
			 South Yorkshire 27,107 35,261 41,907 52,396 51,242 45,504 
			 Staffordshire 18,728 23,523 28,830 30,091 26,736 24,838 
			 Suffolk 7,164 7,638 9,004 9,147 7,778 7,114 
			 Surrey 9,858 11,437 12,021 12,815 10,158 9,175 
			 Sussex 22,208 26,474 28,983 26,672 24,271 23,224 
			 Thames Valley 27,130 34,065 37,424 40,345 38,254 38,748 
			 Warwickshire 7,144 10,290 12,741 12,554 11,040 9,302 
			 West Mercia 10,524 14,595 16,926 17,980 16,738 15,075 
			 West Midlands 68,218 84,084 101,111 100,002 90,637 89,941 
			 West Yorkshire 58,249 78,626 90,231 94,294 87,391 90,130 
			 Wiltshire 6,187 8,158 9,223 9,118 8,152 8,092 
			
			 England 961,696 1,160,370 1,290,664 1,307,683 1,203,637 1,183,159 
		
	
	
		
			   Number of offences 
			 Police force area 1996 1997 1998991 199900 200001 200102 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 35,151 31,220 29,194 27,804 25,805 32,865 
			 Bedfordshire 10,237 8,883 7,129 7,913 6,884 7,671 
			 Cambridgeshire 14,544 12,668 12,759 12,377 10,244 11,161 
			 Cheshire 15,521 13,346 13,125 12,805 12,012 13,680 
			 Cleveland 22,234 16,432 16,526 15,621 15,255 16,966 
			 Cumbria 8,419 6,868 5,812 5,455 4,759 4,942 
			 Derbyshire 18,856 17,302 16,720 15,536 14,997 16,564 
			 Devon and Cornwall 24,841 20,017 17,808 17,307 15,606 15,257 
			 Dorset 9,924 8,437 9,202 8,466 7,803 7,889 
			 Durham 13,084 12,209 10,135 9,083 7,744 8,864 
			 Essex 19,007 16,326 14,997 14,967 14,889 14,472 
			 Gloucestershire 12,928 11,559 10,111 9,308 7,796 8,468 
			 Greater Manchester 83,780 75,834 79,179 75,374 69,361 72,331 
			 Hampshire 23,008 20,431 19,822 18,778 17,968 17,903 
			 Hertfordshire 10,353 9,345 8,353 8,689 9,937 10,677 
			 Humberside 37,834 36,169 34,169 32,230 26,414 26,551 
			 Kent 32,516 25,749 22,978 19,722 19,183 17,474 
			 Lancashire 30,500 27,921 24,226 21,360 21,668 23,920 
			 Leicestershire 24,997 18,753 17,218 15,632 13,377 13,032 
			 Lincolnshire 12,819 10,551 10,257 10,719 9,583 9,592 
			 London, City of 515 402 520 420 545 467 
			 Merseyside 29,437 26,266 26,498 25,638 23,697 25,478 
			 Metropolitan Police 164,926 141,056 123,861 129,145 112,375 116,026 
			 Norfolk 11,751 10,935 10,154 10,243 9,445 9,043 
			 Northamptonshire 12,542 11,385 12,162 11,302 9,541 9,553 
			 Northumbria 42,822 34,584 31,625 26,459 24,741 22,796 
			 North Yorkshire 13,972 11,359 11,237 10,402 9,828 11,656 
			 Nottinghamshire 33,407 29,953 28,792 26,458 25,925 30,263 
			 South Yorkshire 43,276 37,446 34,370 32,412 29,429 32,085 
			 Staffordshire 24,511 23,518 20,391 19,155 17,085 18,781 
			 Suffolk 6,384 6,094 6,241 6,214 5,738 6,346 
			 Surrey 8,476 7,496 6,922 6,640 8,902 8,317 
			 Sussex 21,534 20,595 20,934 19,437 18,302 16,500 
			 Thames Valley 36,549 31,426 30,735 31,185 27,756 27,798 
			 Warwickshire 9,181 8,302 8,064 7,741 7,197 7,813 
			 West Mercia 16,435 16,334 14,631 14,313 13,384 15,398 
			 West Midlands 88,860 77,412 70,624 68,780 62,597 63,060 
			 West Yorkshire 80,010 67,686 67,633 58,896 60,198 68,818 
			 Wiltshire 7,611 6,361 6,129 5,718 5,027 5,824 
			
			 England 1,112,752 968,630 911,243 869,704 802,997 846,301 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures using the expanded coverage and revised counting rules which came into effect from 1 April 1998.
	
		Table 2: Recorded offences of burglary in England 200203 to 200405
		
			 Number of offences 
			 Police force area 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 30,182 24,564 21,496 
			 Bedfordshire 8,336 9,045 7,186 
			 Cambridgeshire 12,775 10,257 8,501 
			 Cheshire 14,194 13,119 10,627 
			 Cleveland 14,856 13,395 9,357 
			 Cumbria 4,895 4,613 4,274 
			 Derbyshire 18,465 16,052 11,667 
			 Devon and Cornwall 15,700 14,024 14,012 
			 Dorset 7,355 7,615 6,330 
			 Durham 7,656 7,083 6,853 
			 Essex 16,909 16,467 14,771 
			 Gloucestershire 8,694 9,072 7,142 
			 Greater Manchester 75,367 66,545 49,372 
			 Hampshire 18,217 18,014 15,552 
			 Hertfordshire 11,713 12,783 11,471 
			 Humberside 27,099 23,761 18,602 
			 Kent 18,371 17,830 16,621 
			 Lancashire 20,487 19,571 16,274 
			 Leicestershire 12,832 12,795 11,687 
			 Lincolnshire 10,831 9,052 7,306 
			 London, City of 444 454 501 
			 Merseyside 25,956 24,871 21,943 
			 Metropolitan Police 113,427 105,361 101,474 
			 Norfolk 9,681 8,169 6,577 
			 Northamptonshire 11,381 12,231 11,120 
			 Northumbria 22,704 20,083 16,822 
			 North Yorkshire 11,511 11,062 7,767 
			 Nottinghamshire 33,190 31,335 25,034 
			 South Yorkshire 34,468 26,553 21,149 
			 Staffordshire 15,172 14,072 11,058 
			 Suffolk 6,248 6,396 5,090 
			 Surrey 9,727 9,700 8,870 
			 Sussex 17,321 16,430 14,607 
			 Thames Valley 29,432 30,076 25,466 
			 Warwickshire 7,437 7,661 6,403 
			 West Mercia 16,375 15,015 12,424 
			 West Midlands 56,531 53,116 40,499 
			 West Yorkshire 69,807 59,799 39,657 
			 Wiltshire 6,242 5,929 5,120 
			 
			 England 851,988 783,970 650,682 
		
	
	Note:
	The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002. Figures are therefore not directly comparable with those for earlier years.
	
		Table 3: Percentage changes in recorded offences of burglary in England1990 to 200102
		
			 Percentage change 
			 Police force area 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 199798 199899(62) 19992000 200001 200102 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset  29 27 -6 -8 -9 3 -11 -6 -5 -7 27 
			 Bedfordshire  19 23 -1 -18 -14 -7 -13 -20 11 -13 11 
			 Cambridgeshire  42 21 4 -6 1 2 -13 1 -3 -17 9 
			 Cheshire  22 32 1 -13 -6 -15 -14 -2 -2 -6 14 
			 Cleveland  4 19 -9 -2 28 -6 -26 1 -5 -2 11 
			 Cumbria  40 8 -8 -6 -6 -11 -18 -15 -6 -13 4 
			 Derbyshire  48 20 15 -6 -17 -5 -8 -3 -7 -3 10 
			 Devon and Cornwall  18 12 13 -7 -13 -6 -19 -11 -3 -10 -2 
			 Dorset  22 7 -3 -3 32 -20 -15 9 -8 -8 1 
			 Durham  20 -1 1 -8 23 -15 -7 -17 -10 -15 14 
			 Essex  26 6 2 -13 -16 -4 -14 -8 0 -1 -3 
			 Gloucestershire  32 30 5 -8 -12 -7 -11 -13 -8 -16 9 
			 Greater Manchester  11 6 -5 -7 -6 -2 -9 4 -5 -8 4 
			 Hampshire  25 8 -4 -10 -16 -7 -11 -3 -5 -4 0 
			 Hertfordshire  26 14 8 -10 -6 -9 -10 -11 4 14 7 
			 Humberside  20 18 23 -8 -11 -3 -4 -6 -6 -18 1 
			 Kent  35 17 -1 -13 26 -4 -21 -11 -14 -3 -9 
			 Lancashire  16 10 8 -8 10 2 -8 -13 -12 1 10 
			 Leicestershire  34 8 8 4 -2 -2 -25 -8 -9 -14 -3 
			 Lincolnshire  9 22 18 -14 9 5 -18 -3 5 -11 0 
			 London, City of  9 -18 -11 -13 5 -28 -22 29 -19 30 -14 
			 Merseyside  -1 3 -3 -2 4 -15 -11 1 -3 -8 8 
			 Metropolitan Police  11 0 -9 -6 4 -4 -14 -12 4 -13 3 
			 Norfolk  22 11 7 -23 -6 -10 -7 -7 1 -8 -4 
			 Northamptonshire  33 8 22 -9 -4 -10 -9 7 -7 -16 0 
			 Northumbria  21 0 -5 -9 -8 -19 -19 -9 -16 -6 -8 
			 North Yorkshire  30 27 4 3 0 -16 -19 -1 -7 -6 19 
			 Nottinghamshire  26 19 10 -13 10 -12 -10 -4 -8 -2 17 
			 South Yorkshire  30 19 25 -2 -11 -5 -13 -8 -6 -9 9 
			 Staffordshire  26 23 4 -11 -7 -1 -4 -13 -6 -11 10 
			 Suffolk  7 18 2 -15 -9 -10 -5 2 0 -8 11 
			 Surrey  16 5 7 -21 -10 -8 -12 -8 -4 34 -7 
			 Sussex  19 9 -8 -9 -4 -7 -4 2 -7 -6 -10 
			 Thames Valley  26 10 8 -5 1 -6 -14 -2 1 -11 0 
			 Warwickshire  44 24 -1 -12 -16 -1 -10 -3 -4 -7 9 
			 West Mercia  39 16 6 -7 -10 9 -1 -10 -2 -6 15 
			 West Midlands  23 20 -1 -9 -1 -1 -13 -9 -3 -9 1 
			 West Yorkshire  35 15 5 -7 3 -11 -15 0 -13 2 14 
			 Wiltshire  32 13 -1 -11 -1 -6 -16 -4 -7 -12 16 
			  
			 England  21 11 1 -8 -2 -6 -13 -6 -5 -8 5 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures using the expanded coverage and revised counting rules which came into effect from 1 April 1998.
	
		Table 4: Percentage changes in recorded offences of burglary in England200203 to 200405
		
			 Percentage change 
			 Police force area 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset  -19 -12 
			 Bedfordshire  9 -21 
			 Cambridgeshire  -20 -17 
			 Cheshire  -8 -19 
			 Cleveland  -10 -30 
			 Cumbria  -6 -7 
			 Derbyshire  -13 -27 
			 Devon and Cornwall  -11 0 
			 Dorset  4 -17 
			 Durham  -7 -3 
			 Essex  -3 -10 
			 Gloucestershire  4 -21 
			 Greater Manchester  -12 -26 
			 Hampshire  -1 -14 
			 Hertfordshire  9 -10 
			 Humberside  -12 -22 
			 Kent  -3 -7 
			 Lancashire  -4 -17 
			 Leicestershire  0 -9 
			 Lincolnshire  -16 -19 
			 London, City of  2 10 
			 Merseyside  -4 -12 
			 Metropolitan Police  -7 -4 
			 Norfolk  -16 -19 
			 Northamptonshire  7 -9 
			 Northumbria  -12 -16 
			 North Yorkshire  -4 -30 
			 Nottinghamshire  -6 -20 
			 South Yorkshire  -23 -20 
			 Staffordshire  -7 -21 
			 Suffolk  2 -20 
			 Surrey  0 -9 
			 Sussex  -5 -11 
			 Thames Valley  2 -15 
			 Warwickshire  3 -16 
			 West Mercia  -8 -17 
			 West Midlands  -6 -24 
			 West Yorkshire  -14 -34 
			 Wiltshire  -5 -14 
			 
			 England  -8 -17 
		
	
	Note:
	The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002. Figures are therefore not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

Crimes against Young People

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the most common forms of crime committed against young people of school age in (a) Uxbridge, (b) the London borough of Hillingdon, (c) Greater London and (d) England in the last five years for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally. Apart from specific sexual offences, it is not possible to identify the age of the victim in the recorded crime statistics.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the occasions when the Criminal Cases Review Commission have referred (a) convictions and (b) sentences imposed by the Crown court to the Court of Appeal in each year since 1996.

Fiona Mactaggart: The following table shows how many cases in total the Commission has referred each year to the appeal courts. The majority of the 308 cases relate to convictions and sentences imposed by the Crown court and referred to the Court of Appeal. However, the figures also include 13 convictions which have been referred to the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland and 12 convictions and two sentences imposed by the magistrates courts which have been referred to the Crown court.
	
		
			  Convictions referred Sentences referred 
		
		
			 199798 10 1 
			 199899 27 4 
			 19992000 33 3 
			 200001 41 4 
			 200102 36 2 
			 200203 32 3 
			 200304 26 4 
			 200405 35 10 
			 200506 29 8 
			 Total 269 39

Crown Prosecution Service

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes are proposed to the Crown Prosecution Service consequent upon the amalgamation of police forces.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is working closely with Home Office and police colleagues in identifying the implications for the CPS of police restructuring.
	The CPS is examining various options on how best to respond to the proposed police restructure. The Law Officers and the Director of Public Prosecutions recognise the benefits of co-terminosity of CPS Areas with police forces.

DNA Samples

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to request DNA samples from serving police officers on a (a) voluntary and (b) compulsory basis.

Hazel Blears: The provision of a DMA sample by police personnel for inclusion on the Police Elimination Database (FED) is voluntary for those who were in employment by the police when the Database was set up in 2000. It is a condition of service for personnel who have joined the police since 1 August 2002. There are no plans to change this.

Dog Theft

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on dog theft and the actions being taken to combat it;
	(2)  if he will meet relevant associations to discuss the problem of animal theft and the creation of a British pet register.

Hazel Blears: Theft of property, including dogs, is a crime under the Theft Act 1968 and is punishable by up to seven years in prison.
	Where this problem emerges as a pressing local crime issue, it would be for the police, in consultation with the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, to take any necessary action. I do not therefore have any plans to meet with the relevant organisations to discuss this issue.
	There are already voluntary databases for missing and found pets and owners can voluntarily undertake to have their pets permanently identified (through micro-chipping and tattooing) and registered.
	A compulsory dog licence system has already been tried but was repealed by the Local Government Act 1988 on the grounds that it cost more to administer than the revenue it raised, due in part to irresponsible owners who did not pay for a licence.

Drug Classification

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the evidence base was for determining the original classification system for controlled drugs.

Paul Goggins: The evidence for establishing the classification system under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 was the system of controls placed on drugs under the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Substances 1961 together with the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Drug Dependence.

Drug Classification

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the standard criteria used by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs are when considering a drug for classification.

Paul Goggins: The ACMD cover three domains of harmfulness when considering the classification of drugs, namely:
	Physical and mental health
	Dependence-producing potential
	Social
	Consideration of the harmfulness of a substance to physical and mental health includes: the acute harmfulness of a substance (i.e. its potential to cause harm during the immediate period after administration); the chronic harms (those which persist after short-term exposure or which develop as a consequence of repeated use), and the harms posed by those substances administered by intravenous injection.
	Drug dependence is different for each substance. It can be related to the duration and amount used, as well as to characteristics of the user.
	Social harms include the potential damage to others when individuals are under the influence of the substance.

Drug Treatment Orders

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of drug treatment orders.

Fiona Mactaggart: The National Probation Directorate routinely monitors Drug Treatment and Testing Order (DTTO) effectiveness through analysis of key performance data. This indicates that 89 per cent. of offenders on DTTOs are being retained in treatment for at least 12 weeks, which is the minimum treatment period reported by the National Treatment Agency as having some impact on drug use and offending.
	Completion rates for DTTOs have also improved from 28 per cent. in 2003, as reported by the Public Accounts Committee, to 36 per cent. in 200405. An evaluation of DTTO pilots (Hough et al, 2003) found statistically significant reductions in reconviction rates between DTTO completers and non-completers, as well as between all those starting DTTOs and a comparison group. However, it is not known to what extent these results were due to the programme.
	The DTTO has gradually been replaced by the Drug Rehabilitation Requirement (DRR) of the community order from April 2005 for offenders aged 18 or over. The DRR is a more flexible order, aimed at a wider target group and treatment is more tailored to individual need.

Emergency Services (Criminal Convictions)

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those convicted of a criminal offence in the last year for which figures are available were employed by the emergency services at the time of their offence.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 6 February 2006
	Data is not held centrally by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform or by the Department of Health on the number of offenders who have been found guilty and who were employed by the emergency services at the time of their offence.

EU Migrants

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many migrants have entered the UK from each accession country since May 2004.

Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 February 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about how many migrants have entered the UK from each accession country since May 2004. (50655)
	The latest available estimates of migrant inflows of residents from each EU accession country are for 2004. They are shown in the attached table 1. The estimates are produced annually from the International Passenger Survey (IPS) where a migrant is defined as a person who, on entry to the UK, states an intention to stay for a year or more. Such intentions may not be realised. On average, just over 70 per cent. of the annual inflows from the accession countries in 2004 occurred in the second half of the year. The estimates are subject to error because they are calculated from a sample survey. For this reason, estimates for some of the smaller migrant inflows from some accession countries have been grouped together.
	A special monthly analysis of the number of visitors to the UK from overseas, by nationality, is available from the IPS for the EU accession countries. It is available at the following web address:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATB ASE/Productasp?vlnk=12222.
	Note that these data cover visits for all purposes, such as holidays and visits by migrants.
	
		International migration, estimates from the International Passenger Survey annual data, 2004Inflow (immigration to the UK) country of last residence
		
			  United Kingdom (thousand) 
			  estimate (62) 
		
		
			 European Union A10 51.8 
			 Poland 17.0 
			 Lithuania 10.8 
			 Czech Republic 7.3 
			 Slovakia 5.8 
			 Rest of A10 10.9 
		
	
	(62) Estimate is based on migrant inflows captured from the International Passenger Survey (IPS).
	Note:
	A10 = grouping of all the accession countries
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

European Commission (Anti-crime Measures)

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on the European Commission's proposals for harmonisation of the methodology used in the compilation of crime statistics.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 12 December 2005
	My officials are members of the taskforce set up by EUROSTAT to take forward these proposals which were included as part of the five-year Hague Programme agreed by the European Council in November 2004. So far, no proposals have been put forward by EUROSTAT.

Forensic Science

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the training for scene of crime officers, with particular reference to the involvement of the (a) Forensic Science Service and (b) Metropolitan Police Forensic Science Laboratory.

Hazel Blears: The training of scenes of crime officers (SOCOs) is controlled by the Central Police Training and Development Authority (Centrex) at the National Training Centre for Scientific Support to Crime Investigation's (NTC). Initial SOCO training is carried out through two routes. The first is a nine-week residential initial crime-scene investigator training course which covers photography, combined trace evidence theory and practice. The second is a three-week volume crime-scene investigator (VCSI) course covering disciplines required to examine burglary and vehicle crime with the principal focus being on DNA and fingerprint evidence. This course is then followed by the conversion VCSI course which will enhance the existing skills of the VCSI to bring them up to the level of a substantive SOCO. SOCO trainees may then join the development crime-scene investigator course which enhances skills used in specialised areas including the investigation of suspicious fires and also firearms and/or explosives incidents.
	On successful completion of this training, SOCOs are usually posted to a police force on a one to two year development programme. Following this on-the-job training period SOCOs may then attend a further two week course, which covers more detailed skills and techniques. The NIC also offer specialist short courses for SOCOs, including fire investigation, forensic archaeology, facial identification techniques and management training. Once fully qualified, SOCOs are usually required to attend a two week NIC refresher course every five years. This aims to review and refresh knowledge and skills, and keep up to date with new developments in scene of crime analysis.
	The Forensic Science Service (FSS), which incorporated the Metropolitan Police Forensic Science Laboratory from 1 April 1996, is the main supplier of forensic science services to police forces in England and Wales. The FSS employ SOCOs, but it is expected that all SOCOs will be fully qualified before joining the organisation.

Home Detention Curfew Scheme

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent on the home detention curfew schemes in each of the past five years, broken down by (a) equipment development and maintenance and (b) personnel.

Fiona Mactaggart: Since the start of the scheme in 1999 over 120,000 prisoners have been released on home detention curfew (HDC). At any one time there are around 3,200 prisoners on HDC, which represents the capacity of around five or six medium-sized prisons.
	Expenditure on the home detention curfew scheme under the electronic monitoring contracts in the last five completed financial years is shown in the table. The amount payable under the contracts for delivering the service is not broken down by equipment and staff costs.
	
		
			 Financial year Expenditure on HOC () 
		
		
			 200001 24,470,992.04 
			 200102 24,095,179.86 
			 200203 28,407,664.92 
			 200304 31,768,270.94 
			 200405 31,690,034.23

Home Detention Curfew Scheme

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many electronic tags used in the Home Detention Curfew Scheme have been (a) found to be faulty and (b) vandalised and had to be replaced in each of the last five years.

Fiona Mactaggart: Since new electronic monitoring contracts began on 1 April 2005, the contractors have reported nearly 700 cases of offenders on Home Detention Curfew who had damaged their electronic monitoring equipment. Any offender who is found to have deliberately caused such damage will be in breach of his or her licence conditions and recalled to prison.
	Information is not available broken down in the way requested, or for the period before 1 April 2005, and cannot be provided except at a disproportionate cost.

Home Detention Curfew Scheme

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to ensure that those agencies contracted to monitor tagged criminals are properly scrutinised and held to account for their performance.

Fiona Mactaggart: The two contractors must comply with Home Office requirements for delivering the electronic monitoring service and must meet a range of specified performance levels. The Home Office audits their performance every month. Any under-performance results in financial deductions from the amount paid to them for delivering the service. In the current financial year, a total of 100,000 has been deducted.

Homosexuality

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  under what powers police may question individuals about their stated views on homosexuality; and what guidance he provides to police forces on this issue;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect on free speech of police questioning of individuals about their stated views on homosexuality.

Hazel Blears: The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and accompanying codes of practice sets out police powers in respect of the questioning of a person suspected of involvement in an offence. The Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers jointly produced good practice and tactical guidance in March 2005 entitled: Hate Crime: Delivering a Quality Service. The guidance is available on the ACPO website.

Hunting Act

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) guidance and (b) training has been provided to police forces in England and Wales with regard to the Hunting Act 2004.

Hazel Blears: I understand that the Association of Chief Police Officers has issued guidance and a training package to police forces in England and Wales on the practical aspects of enforcing the Hunting Act.

Immigration Control Staff

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many whole-time equivalent immigration control staff were employed in control and surveillance of ports and airports in each year since 19992000.

Tony McNulty: Overall, numbers of border control staff have risen. In 2001 the figure for full-time equivalent immigration control staff was 1,830.2, in 2002 the figure was 2,194, in 2003 the figure was 2,322.7, in 2004 the figure was 2,474.7, in 2005 the figure was 2,501.4 and in 2006 the figure is 3,453.6.

IMPACT System

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total budget for the introduction of the IMPACT system is.

Hazel Blears: A total of 52 million was made available to the IMPACT programme for the financial year 200506.

Menezes Report

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the report of the Independent Police Complaints Commission into (a) the death of Mr. Menezes and (b) the conduct of the Metropolitan police to be published.

Hazel Blears: The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) report on the death of Mr. de Menezes, including the conduct of the Metropolitan police, will be published when any relevant legal or disciplinary proceedings have concluded. It is too soon to say when this will be.

Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent guidance has been issued to (a) health staff, (b) social services staff and (c) court personnel on dealing with cases of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	In 2002, the Department of Health, Home Office, Department for Education and Skills and the Welsh Assembly published Safeguarding Children in whom Illness is Fabricated or Induced, as supplementary guidance to the Government's child protection guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children (1999). It is intended to provide a national framework within which agencies and professionals at local levelindividually and jointlydraw up and agree upon their own more detailed ways of working together in cases of fabricated or induced illness. It is addressed to those who work in the health and education services, the police, social services departments, the probation service, and others whose work brings them into contact with children and families.

National Offender Management Service

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 12 October 2005, Official Report, columns 48889W, on the National Offender Management Service, if he will publish the business case for the National Offender Management Service.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 3 November2005
	A response to this question was given on the 12 December 2005, Official Report, column 1713W.

National Youth and Community Service

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the setting up of the National Youth and Community Service; and when he expects the first young people to participate in this scheme.

Hazel Blears: The Government are committed to creating the new national framework for youth action and engagement set out in the March 2005 Russell Commission report. Progress in implementing the report's recommendations has been encouraging.
	In response to the report's headline recommendation, an independent charitable company has been created to drive forward implementation. This will bring together young people, the voluntary and community sector, Government and the private sector in a shared purpose to make volunteering a valued part of young people's lives and to engage one million more young people in voluntary activities. Rod Aldridge, executive chairman of Capita Group has been recruited through an open process as the chair and the recruitment of the chief executive officer and board is in the final stages. A key part of creating the framework is securing private sector support and so far 3.5 million has been secured from seven founding partners, T- Mobile, BskyB, Tesco, ITV, MTV, the Hunter Foundation and KPMG.
	We expect that the independent charitable company will be publicly launched in April 2006, with the first young people undertaking voluntary and community activities in that month.

Neighbourhood Policing

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what ways neighbourhood policing requires the engagement of non-police partners, with particular reference to (a) Government offices, (b) regional resilience fora, (c) local authorities, (d) health authorities, (e) fire services and (f) ambulance services.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 9 February 2006
	We are committed to ensuring that, by 2008, every area in England and Wales will benefit from dedicated, visible, accessible and responsive neighbourhood policing teams.
	Neighbourhood policing cannot be delivered in isolation, and teams will work closely with a wide range of non-police partners to tackle shared community safety issues. How neighbourhood policing teams will engage with particular partners will vary form area to area, depending on local issues and priorities.

Neighbourhood Watch

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the leadership offered by the chairman of the National Neighbourhood Watch Association; and what representations he has received on this subject.

Hazel Blears: The association is an independent charity, which is not currently funded by the Home Office. The appointment of the trustees and office-holders of the NNWA is a matter for the association's membership. The Home Office has received a number of representations from activists within the neighbourhood watch movement concerning the governance of the association. These are matters for the NNWA's trustees to consider and resolve. I understand that the NNWA board of trustees have put in hand a consultation process with a view to reviewing and updating the association's governance arrangements later this year. No assessment has been made by the Home Office of the effectiveness of the chair of the National Neighbourhood Watch Association (NNWA).

Neighbourhood Watch

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding the Department has allocated to the National Neighbourhood Watch Association in each of the last three years; and what assessment he has made of the use made of the funding.

Hazel Blears: During the financial year 200304 the Home Office provided the National Neighbourhood Watch Association (NNWA) with emergency funding totalling 350,000paid in two tranches of 150,000 and 200,000to support the association during the period following the withdrawal of third-party commercial sponsorship. The funding covered the running costs of the association, including staff salaries, while the NNWA sought alternative commercial sponsorship. In 200405 the Home Office provided a further 25,000 to the NNWA to support the association pending the start of a new commercial sponsorship deal in April 2005. No further funding was offered to the NNWA during 200506.

Offending Crime and Justice Survey

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what definition of assault and other thefts is used in the Offending Crime and Justice Survey.

Fiona Mactaggart: The definitions of assault and other thefts used in the Offending, Crime and Justice Survey are as follows:
	Assault includes assault with injury (had used force or violence on anyone on purpose for example, by scratching, hitting, kicking, or throwing things, which had injured the person in someway) and assault without injury (had used force or violence on anyone on purpose which did not injure them in anyway).
	Other thefts include theft from place of work, from school, shoplifting, theft from the person and other thefts. This last category includes any other thefts they have not already mentioned.

Police

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average period has been in each of the last five years between police recruits applying to and starting training in (a) Staffordshire police force, (b) West Midlands police force, (c) Shropshire police force, (d) West Mercia police force and (e) Warwickshire police force, broken down by (i) sex and (ii) ethnic origin.

Hazel Blears: This information is not held centrally.
	Staffordshire, West Midlands, West Mercia and Warwickshire police forces have informed me that neither the sex nor ethnic origin of candidates have any bearing on the length of time from application to appointment. The West Mercia constabulary includes Shropshire.

Police

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of training a new police officer was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: There are no centrally collated data available for the cost of training a new police officer. The various stages of initial police training were, until recently, split between the officer's force and the Central Police Training and Development Authority (Centrex).
	The Initial Police Learning and Development Programme (IPLDP) moves the whole of initial police training into forces. The rollout of the IPLDP will coincide with the implementation offer training costing plans using the national training cost model (NTCM) which will enable forces to assess their training costs on a consistent basis.

Police

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on (a) the recruitment of police officers, (b) the recruitment of graduates to work as police officers and (c) the accelerated promotion scheme for graduate police officers.

Hazel Blears: Police officers are recruited through an assessment process which is based on nationally agreed competencies for the role and designed to select candidates who best match the requirements of the job.
	Of the 5,801 applicants who were successful at the assessment centre between 1 November 2004 and 30 September 2005,1969 (34 per cent.) were graduates.
	The accelerated promotion scheme for graduates was replaced by the police High Potential Development Scheme in 2002. The scheme is also open to non graduates. It provides development opportunities tailored to individual needs for those who successfully pass the selection process, to combine real work experience, practical training and academic study in order to move through the ranks to senior leadership positions in the police service.

Police

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of police officers have received training in basic interviewing skills.

Hazel Blears: All police officers in England and Wales currently receive training in relation to the interviewing of victims, witnesses and suspects as part of their initial training. Officers are educated to PEACE (planning and preparation, engage and explain, account, closure, evaluation) tier one. This is a training programme specifically designed to equip officers with the requisite skills to conduct well planned, professional interviews in an ethical and efficient manner. This has been implemented by all police forces in England and Wales, although certain elements of the course can be tailored to meet specific needs within an individual force. PEACE has now been incorporated as a core module of the Initial Police Learning and Development Programme (IPLDP) under which new police officers' competence against national occupational standards is assessed.

Police

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on how police performance is assessed.

Hazel Blears: The performance of each police force in England and Wales is assessed in seven key areas: Reducing Crime, Investigating Crime, Promoting Safety, Providing Assistance, Citizen Focus, Resource Use and Local Policing.
	Two assessments are made in each of these seven areas, based on a combination of data from Statutory Performance Indicators and judgement from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (the latter including an assessment with respect to 'tackling level two criminality').
	The first assessment is made, typically, by comparing the performance achieved by a force to that achieved by a group of its peers. The second assessment is made by comparing the performance achieved by a force in one year to that achieved by the same force in the previous year. Special rules are used which take account of national policing priorities and data quality.

Police

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of fuel and energy price increases on police service budgets.

Hazel Blears: The Association of Police Authorities provided estimates of additional cost pressures for next year, including the impact of fuel and energy costs, to inform decisions on the police grant settlement 200607. The estimates were taken fully into account in reaching final decisions.

Police

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have been employed in the Vale of Glamorgan division in each of the last five years.

Hazel Blears: Information on police officer numbers in the Vale of Glamorgan basic command unit is only available from March 2002. The data is shown in the table. Deployment of officers to each of the Basic Command Units in South Wales Police is an operational matter for the Chief Constable (Barbara Wilding). We have been informed by the force that Vale of Glamorgan currently has 220 police officersthe same as in March 2005.
	
		South Wales PoliceVale of Glamorgan Basic Command Unit
		
			 As at 31 March: Police numbers Community Support Officers (63) 
		
		
			 2002 195  
			 2003 220  
			 2004 228  
			 2005 220 12 
		
	
	(63) Community Support Officer BCD strength collected for first time and is the position on 30 June 2005.

Police

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there are per head of population in (a) the Metropolitan Police Service and (b) the Thames Valley Police Force.

Hazel Blears: In March 2005 (the latest available figures) the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) had 433 police officers per 100,000 of the population. Thames Valley Police had 198 police officers per 100,000 of the population. The Metropolitan Police Service's unique capital city functions, such as anti-terrorist, security and protection work and the policing major national events, contribute to the MPS having a higher ratio than other forces.

Police

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the 50 fastest improving basic command units in the English police forces, based upon performance against key targets over the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office does not currently collect or track targets at Basic Command Unit level as this is an operational matter at the discretion of the local Chief Constable. It is not therefore possible to list the performance of the 50 fastest improving Basic Command Units against these targets.
	The Home Office publishes an annual Police Performance Assessment at force level which shows the comparative performance and direction of travel across a number of areas. The publication and all underlying data are available at http://www.police.homeoffice.gov.uk/performance-and-measurement/performance-assessment/assessments-20042005/

Police

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will ensure that each (a) county council and (b) unitary council will continue to be represented by a minimum of one councillor on any new police authority after the merging of forces and authorities; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how he intends to ensure that local authority representation on new police authorities after force mergers reflects the political composition of the relevant councils; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: In order to discharge their functions effectively I believe strategic authorities should in most cases have a maximum of 23 members (in line with that of the Metropolitan Police Authority). I accept, however, that in some parts of the country, police authorities will need to be larger in order to ensure that all upper tier local authorities are represented. This is particularly important given that police authorities will continue to set a policing precept.
	Where there are more councillor seats on a strategic police authority than the number of upper tier local authorities, we would expect the additional councillor appointments to reflect, as far as practicable, the political balance of the relevant councils when taken as a whole.

Police

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the proposed restructuring of police forces in (a) Sussex, (b) Kent and (c) Surrey; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 23 December 2005
	My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary received business cases relating to police restructuring from the Sussex, Kent and Surrey police forces and authorities by 23 December 2005. Each business case was submitted jointly by the relevant force and its authority.
	In addition to these representations the Home Secretary has received correspondence relating to police restructuring in Sussex, Kent and Surrey from a wide range of stakeholders including MPs representing constituencies within those police force areas, members of the public, and local councillors.
	We are now in the process of assessing the submissions for their operational robustness and financial viability. The Home Secretary will be in a position to make an announcement on the options that are operationally viable in February and following this we will work with areas to decide how best to move forward.

Police

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Police National Computer is compatible with the Scottish Police Computer.

Hazel Blears: The data on Police National Computer (PNC) and Scottish Criminal Record Office (SCRO) is compatible. Data is exchanged between the two systems to allow forces in England, Wales and Scotland to access relevant data for their business needs.
	As part of current arrangements Scottish conviction records are uploaded automatically to the PNC in England and Wales through the Scottish Criminal History System run by SCRO. Scottish forces use PNC in the same way as English and Welsh forces as there is access to PNC in all Scottish forces.

Police

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the financial impact on UK police forces of the new police pension scheme for future entrants;
	(2)  what the estimated cost to each police force is of the new pension arrangements for the police.

Hazel Blears: Two major changes are being made to police officer pensions from April 2006: a new pension scheme will apply to new entrants after that date; and the method of financing pension payments to former officers will be changed. The new Police Pension Scheme will still provide high-quality pensions for officers but at reduced cost for forces. The value of the pension benefits accruing to a typical member of the new scheme is estimated to be 7 per cent. of pay less than if they were a member of the old scheme.
	Under the new pensions financing arrangements announced on 29 November 2005 forces will from April 2006 no longer pay the pensions of their retired officers out of their operating account but from a separate pensions account funded by employer and employee contributions and topped-up as necessary by central Government. The main pensions costs falling to forces' operating budgets will henceforth be in the form of new employer contributions to meet the cost of the accruing future pension liabilities of serving officers. Forces will pay employer contributions at a single national rate to cover the costs of pensions accruing to serving officers in both the current and the new Police Pension Schemes. The rate of employer contributions will be revised every three years following an actuarial assessment. As the proportion of officers who are members of the new scheme grows over the years, it is expected that the level of the employer contributions can be reduced.

Police

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the capital costs of a merger of the Cheshire and Merseyside police forces.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 2 February 2006
	No final decisions have been made about the future structure of policing in the North West.
	We are currently working to determine the viability of the options for reorganisation. This includes detailed analysis of the financial implications for set up costs and for future costs and benefits. We will use the results to assess the financial implications of mergers.

Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when (a) he and (b) his Ministers last visited HMP Wandsworth; what the purpose of their visit was; for how long it lasted; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he will reply to correspondence of 10 October from the hon. Member for North West Norfolk about the junior governor at HMP Wandsworth; and what the cause is of the delay in response.

Fiona Mactaggart: Ministers have made the following visits to Wandsworth prison as part of their programme of such visits: Fiona Mactaggart on 13 September 2005 and Baroness Scotland on1 November 2005.
	The hon. Member's office sent me a copy of the letter on 19 December 2005. There is no record of the original letter having been received. I replied to the hon. Member on 5 January 2006.

Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  on what date (a) the Governor at HMP Wandsworth, (b) the Prison Service's Director of Operations, (c) the Director-General of the Prison Service and (d) Ministers became aware of the possession of drugs by a junior governor at HMP Wandsworth in June 2005; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  who decided not to refer the case of the junior governor found in possession of drugs at HMP Wandsworth in June 2005 to the police; on what basis this decision was taken; who was consulted in making that decision; when that decision was taken; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  who conducted the inquiry into the junior governor at HMP Wandsworth found in possession of drugs in June 2005; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what time elapsed between the junior governor found in possession of drugs in June 2005 being handed the drugs and handing the drugs over prior to being searched; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  for how long the (a) investigation into and (b) suspension of the junior governor found in possession of drugs at HMP Wandsworth in June 2005 lasted; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  whether the investigation into a junior governor found in possession of drugs at HMP Wandsworth in June 2005 was (a) formal and (b) informal; what factors were taken into account when deciding the nature of the investigation; who determined the nature of the investigation; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Governor of Wandsworth was made aware of the incident on 29 June 2005, as was the Area Manager for London. The Director of Operations and Director General became aware in October 2005. Ministers were informed in October 2005.
	The investigation was carried out by the Deputy Governor.
	The Governor of Wandsworth took the decision not to refer the case to the police after an investigation revealed that the junior governor had been passed the small amount of drugs by a prisoner during the course of his duties and had later handed them in; there were staff and prisoner witnesses. After making his decision the Governor consulted the Area Manager who confirmed his actions.
	The drugs were given to the junior governor by a prisoner on 25 June 2005, he handed them in on 29 June 2005.

Prisons

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in (a) Coldingley prison and (b) England and Wales had their application for home detention curfew rejected because the victim objected to it being granted, in each of the last 10-years for which figures are available.

Fiona Mactaggart: In determining whether a prisoner will be granted Home Detention Curfew (HDC) prison governors consider the risk the prisoner poses to the victim or to members of the public, whether the prisoner's pattern of offending behaviour indicates a likelihood of re-offending during the HDC period, whether the prisoner is likely to comply with the conditions of the curfew and whether the proposed released address is suitable. Consideration of victims' concerns is an important part of the HDC suitability assessment process but Governors will not refuse to grant release to a prisoner purely on the basis that the victim objects to the release.
	Where a prisoner is otherwise suitable for release on HDC and is subject to supervision, licence conditions can be set which prevent the offender making any contact with the victim or entering the victim's local area.

Prisons

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the (a) highest, (b) lowest and (c) average inmate population of Woodhill prison in Milton Keynes (i) for each of the last five years and (ii) over the whole five-year period.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested, as recorded on the Prison Service IT system, is provided in the table.
	
		Woodhill prison population totals over five years
		
			  Average Highest Lowest 
		
		
			 2001 655 676 638 
			 2002 743 774 705 
			 2003 767 791 754 
			 2004 770 792 743 
			 2005 762 772 748 
			 Whole period, 200105 740 792 638 
		
	
	Note:
	That these figures relate to the population at end month.

Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of mandatory drug testing on the supply of controlled drugs into the prison estate at each prison establishment; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: A comprehensive range of measures is in place to reduce the supply of drugs in each prison of which the mandatory drug testing (MDT) programme is one element. It is not possible to assess precisely the impact of anyone component in isolation. Overall, the positive MDT rate nationally has halved since 1997.
	Research has shown that mandatory drug testing does exert a deterrent effect on drug misuse particularly on cannabis misuse.

Prisons

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average number of hours of time out of cell was on (a) weekdays and (b) weekends in each prison establishment in each of the last five years.

Fiona Mactaggart: The tables show the average time out of cell hours for each establishment over the last five years on (a) weekdays and (b) weekends. The 200506 figures show time unlocked up to the third quarter of the financial year 200506.
	
		Table 1: Average time unlocked at weekdays (hours)
		
			  Financial year 
			 Establishment name 200102 200203 200304 200405 200506(64) 
		
		
			 Acklington 10.0 10.3 10.4 10.4 10.5 
			 Albany 8.9 8.5 9.9 9.5 10.5 
			 Altcourse n/a 13.0 13.0 13.1 13.1 
			 Ashfield 12.0 11.8 10.0 10.5 10.5 
			 Ashwell 15.0 15.5 15.5 15.5 15.5 
			 Askham Grange 16.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 
			 Aylesbury 7.7 8.6 8.9 8.5 8.1 
			 Bedford 7.8 7.7 8.0 8.6 8.8 
			 Belmarsh 5.2 7.5 8.6 9.5 10.0 
			 Birmingham 7.5 8.5 7.5 7.3 8.8 
			 Blakenhurst 9.5 9.3 8.1 8.5 9.3 
			 Blantyre House 15.0 15.3 15.3 15.3 17.1 
			 Blundeston 10.0 9.9 10.1 10.2 10.1 
			 Brinsford 15.9 9.0 8.6 8.5 8.6 
			 Bristol 8.0 7.8 8.0 7.9 8.0 
			 Brixton 7.5 5.6 4.3 7.2 8.3 
			 Brockhill 8.3 8.5 8.7 8.6 9.5 
			 Bronzefield n/a n/a n/a 12.0 12.0 
			 Buckley Hall 13.0 13.4 13.4 13.1 13.1 
			 Bullingdon 8.5 8.6 10.4 8.6 8.1 
			 Bullwood Hall 10.3 10.6 11.0 10.6 11.4 
			 Camp Hill 10.0 10.5 10.7 11.0 10.5 
			 Canterbury 7.8 8.2 8.3 7.8 7.9 
			 Cardiff 8.5 8.7 9.1 9.5 9.1 
			 Castington 9.7 10.4 7.8 8.3 8.7 
			 Channings Wood 10.0 10.9 9.8 9.7 9.2 
			 Chelmsford 9.0 9.9 9.8 7.6 8.0 
			 Coldingley 19.0 12.3 12.5 12.0 11.2 
			 Cookham Wood 10.0 9.4 8.0 9.2 9.6 
			 Dartmoor 8.1 8.6 9.4 10.6 10.6 
			 Deerbolt 7.8 8.1 9.0 8.2 9.1 
			 Doncaster n/a 11.3 11.3 11.5 11.5 
			 Dorchester 9.0 13.2 13.2 7.9 5.7 
			 Dovegate n/a 12.5 12.5 11.9 11.8 
			 Dover 8.0 12.5 12.0 12.0 11.9 
			 Downview 10.3 10.6 10.6 10.7 11.0 
			 Drake Hall 24.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 16.5 
			 Durham 6.8 9.0 9.8 9.8 8.3 
			 East Sutton Park 17.0 17.5 17.0 17.0 17.0 
			 Eastwood Park 9.5 10.5 10.6 11.3 12.5 
			 Edmunds Hill n/a n/a 9.5 9.5 9.5 
			 Elmley 7.7 8.3 8.6 8.5 8.5 
			 Erlestoke 10.9 11.3 11.0 11.1 11.1 
			 Everthorpe 10.9 11.1 10.5 9.1 9.1 
			 Exeter 8.0 8.5 8.5 8.3 8.2 
			 Featherstone 7.7 8.4 8.2 8.6 8.5 
			 Feltham 15.0 7.4 7.0 7.9 9.4 
			 Ford 13.0 13.3 13.3 13.3 13.3 
			 Forest Bank 11.3 12.4 11.9 10.5 10.5 
			 Foston Hall 10.0 10.7 10.6 10.8 10.4 
			 Frankland 8.8 9.3 9.3 9.3 9.3 
			 Full Sutton 9.0 9.5 9.5 9.4 9.6 
			 Garth 10.0 9.6 10.0 10.0 10.0 
			 Gartree 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 
			 Glen Parva 5.2 6.8 7.1 8.9 10.2 
			 Gloucester 7.8 6.8 6.8 6.9 7.0 
			 Grendon 28.0 14.3 14.1 12.8 13.9 
			 Guys Marsh 8.0 8.4 9.2 9.5 8.9 
			 Haslar 10.7 10.2 11.0 11.0 11.2 
			 Haverigg 11.0 11.9 11.9 10.4 10.2 
			 Hewell Grange 24.0 24.0 24.0 24.0 24.0 
			 High Down 7.9 6.3 6.1 6.4 6.0 
			 Highpoint 17.1 9.8 10.0 10.0 10.0 
			 Hindley 6.6 9.3 9.9 9.9 10.3 
			 Hollesley Bay 11.4 13.1 15.5 15.5 15.5 
			 Holloway 5.6 5.2 7.2 9.0 9.4 
			 Holme House 5.3 5.4 5.5 6.1 7.1 
			 Hull 7.1 5.8 5.7 7.9 9.0 
			 Huntercombe 9.2 9.9 10.0 10.1 10.1 
			 Kingston 11.2 12.4 12.2 11.3 10.8 
			 Kirkham 13.0 13.5 13.5 13.5 13.4 
			 Kirklevington 19.0 19.0 19.0 19.0 19.0 
			 Lancaster 9.8 9.7 10.0 10.0 10.0 
			 Lancaster Farms 22.6 8.0 10.1 10.7 10.2 
			 Latchmere House 19.0 19.0 19.0 19.0 19.0 
			 Leeds 8.1 8.4 8.8 8.9 8.9 
			 Leicester 9.8 8.3 9.5 9.7 9.5 
			 Lewes 8.3 6.5 7.5 7.8 6.9 
			 Leyhill 24.0 24.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 
			 Lincoln 10.0 10.2 6.2 8.9 9.5 
			 Lindholme 12.0 11.0 11.0 10.9 11.9 
			 Littlehey 8.9 9.2 9.2 9.5 9.8 
			 Liverpool 6.3 6.7 7.4 8.4 9.0 
			 Long Lartin 9.0 9.2 9.2 9.0 9.1 
			 Low Newton 10.9 10.5 10.5 10.5 10.5 
			 Lowdham Grange n/a 13.5 12.8 13.0 13.0 
			 Maidstone 9.9 9.7 9.1 10.0 9.7 
			 Manchester 10.0 10.7 10.5 9.4 9.9 
			 Moorland 8.3 9.4 11.4 12.6 12.7 
			 Morton Hall 15.0 15.2 15.0 15.0 15.0 
			 Mount 7.6 7.8 8.6 8.7 9.0 
			 New Hall 9.0 9.9 10.9 11.4 11.7 
			 North Sea Camp 19.3 24.0 19.8 16.7 15.5 
			 Northallerton 7.3 7.0 8.4 8.8 9.0 
			 Norwich 8.0 8.3 8.3 8.8 8.7 
			 Nottingham 8.8 7.5 7.3 7.1 7.7 
			 Onley 16.8 8.3 8.4 8.9 9.0 
			 Pare 9.1 9.5 9.8 10.2 10.3 
			 Parkhurst 9.2 8.3 8.9 9.2 9.3 
			 Pentonville 4.6 5.1 7.6 7.8 7.9 
			 Peterborough n/a n/a n/a n/a 12.0 
			 Portland 18.1 8.8 8.2 7.6 7.8 
			 Preston 7.8 8.0 8.4 8.7 8.8 
			 Ranby 13.0 13.5 10.1 10.6 11.0 
			 Reading 8.0 7.1 7.8 8.0 7.3 
			 Risley 10.9 11.0 10.5 10.5 10.5 
			 Rochester 8.8 7.7 6.3 9.0 8.3 
			 Rye Hill n/a 11.8 11.6 11.4 11.4 
			 Send 13.0 12.8 12.9 12.7 12.7 
			 Shepton Mallet 9.9 10.5 10.4 10.0 9.8 
			 Shrewsbury 9.8 9.8 9.4 9.5 9.5 
			 Stafford 11.1 9.4 9.5 9.5 10.3 
			 Standford Hill 24.0 24.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 
			 Stocken 11.0 10.8 10.8 10.8 10.7 
			 Stoke Heath 10.0 10.3 10.3 10.3 10.4 
			 Styal 11.0 11.6 11.6 11.6 11.8 
			 Sudbury 24.0 19.0 19.0 12.9 12.8 
			 Swaleside 9.0 9.8 10.1 9.9 9.7 
			 Swansea 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.2 7.9 
			 Swinfen Hall 9.6 10.4 10.4 10.4 10.4 
			 Thorn Cross 12.1 12.8 12.5 12.5 12.5 
			 Usk/Prescoed 13.0 13.7 14.4 13.8 13.6 
			 Verne 16.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 
			 Wakefield 8.6 8.9 9.0 9.0 8.7 
			 Wandsworth 7.0 6.3 5.9 6.4 5.3 
			 Warren Hill n/a n/a 10.3 10.5 10.9 
			 Wayland 9.0 9.5 10.3 11.5 11.6 
			 Wealstun 11.9 12.5 12.0 11.3 11.9 
			 Weare 9.6 9.9 9.8 9.5 9.6 
			 Wellingborough 10.0 10.0 9.8 9.7 9.6 
			 Werrington 9.7 10.4 10.9 10.7 10.6 
			 Wetherby 9.4 9.8 10.0 9.8 9.5 
			 Whatton 12.0 12.6 12.0 13.1 12.0 
			 Whitemoor 9.5 9.8 9.8 9.7 9.7 
			 Winchester 8.0 8.7 8.9 9.4 8.4 
			 Wolds n/a 11.9 12.6 12.6 12.4 
			 Woodhill 9.8 9.2 8.8 8.5 8.5 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 7.9 7.9 8.0 8.0 7.9 
			 Wymott 10.0 10.0 10.8 11.1 11.0 
		
	
	(64) Up to December 2005
	
		Table 2: Average time unlocked at weekends (hours)
		
			  Financial year 
			 Establishment name 200102 200203 200304 200405 200506(65) 
		
		
			 Acklington 8.0 8.9 9.2 9.2 9.4 
			 Albany 7.0 7.0 7.5 7.7 7.7 
			 Altcourse n/a 13.0 13.0 12.3 12.3 
			 Ashfield 12.0 12.0 9.5 10.5 9.5 
			 Ashwell 15.0 15.5 15.5 15.5 15.5 
			 Askham Grange 16.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 
			 Aylesbury 5.4 6.1 6.3 6.8 5.0 
			 Bedford 6.1 6.4 5.6 5.9 5.3 
			 Belmarsh 4.0 4.8 5.0 6.0 6.1 
			 Birmingham 7.1 7.4 6.7 6.2 6.8 
			 Blakenhurst 9.0 8.5 7.7 8.3 8.3 
			 Blantyre House 8.8 15.3 15.3 15.3 16.8 
			 Blundeston 7.0 7.9 7.3 7.3 7.4 
			 Brinsford 11.8 7.0 6.2 6.9 7.2 
			 Bristol 6.0 6.2 6.2 6.0 6.0 
			 Brixton 5.8 5.1 3.5 5.4 7.1 
			 Brockhill 6.7 6.3 7.1 7.0 7.5 
			 Bronzefield n/a n/a n/a 10.1 9.9 
			 Buckley Hall 13.0 13.0 13.1 12.8 12.6 
			 Bullingdon 6.6 6.3 7.3 6.3 5.2 
			 Bullwood Hall 8.8 8.8 7.4 7.7 9.2 
			 Camp Hill 10.0 8.5 8.4 8.5 8.5 
			 Canterbury 7.4 7.3 7.8 7.7 7.9 
			 Cardiff 5.5 5.7 5.8 6.0 5.2 
			 Castington 8.8 9.3 6.8 7.6 7.8 
			 Channings Wood 7.0 7.1 6.9 7.0 6.7 
			 Chelmsford 8.4 8.3 6.5 4.1 1.4 
			 Coldingley 15.8 10.2 10.0 9.2 8.3 
			 Cookham Wood 8.0 8.3 7.1 7.5 8.3 
			 Dartmoor 6.0 6.5 7.0 8.4 8.5 
			 Deerbolt 4.9 5.4 5.4 5.4 5.4 
			 Doncaster n/a 11.3 11.3 11.5 11.5 
			 Dorchester 8.8 13.2 12.1 8.7 4.7 
			 Dovegate n/a 11.0 11.1 10.5 10.5 
			 Dover 7.3 12.3 11.8 11.7 11.7 
			 Downview 10.0 9.4 9.3 8.7 8.7 
			 Drake Hall 24.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 16.5 
			 Durham 4.5 4.2 4.5 4.0 4.6 
			 East Sutton Park 17.0 17.5 17.0 17.0 17.0 
			 Eastwood Park 8.0 8.8 8.2 8.4 9.1 
			 Edmunds Hill n/a n/a 9.5 9.5 7.8 
			 Elmley 7.3 7.8 7.7 7.8 7.7 
			 Erlestoke 10.1 10.0 10.0 9.7 9.5 
			 Everthorpe 7.3 8.7 8.4 7.8 7.1 
			 Exeter 7.0 7.5 7.5 7.4 7.2 
			 Featherstone 9.8 10.1 10.1 10.1 10.1 
			 Feltham 14.6 6.1 7.6 7.2 7.1 
			 Ford 13.0 13.3 13.3 13.3 13.3 
			 Forest Bank 10.8 9.9 8.4 9.6 8.5 
			 Foston Hall 8.3 9.3 9.1 9.5 9.2 
			 Frankland 7.2 7.0 7.0 7.0 6.0 
			 Full Sutton 7.0 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 
			 Garth 7.0 7.9 7.5 7.5 7.5 
			 Gartree 7.0 7.3 7.3 7.3 7.3 
			 Glen Parva 3.0 3.5 3.5 5.7 7.4 
			 Gloucester 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.2 5.8 
			 Grendon 25.8 12.2 11.8 8.8 11.4 
			 Guys Marsh 7.0 7.4 7.4 7.5 8.4 
			 Haslar 10.7 10.1 10.3 10.3 10.3 
			 Haverigg 11.0 11.9 11.9 9.7 7.7 
			 Hewell Grange 24.0 24.0 24.0 24.0 24.0 
			 High Down 5.4 4.6 4.4 5.0 4.1 
			 Highpoint 16.3 8.4 7.5 7.5 7.5 
			 Hindley 4.0 6.6 8.9 9.9 10.5 
			 Hollesley Bay 8.7 12.2 15.5 15.5 15.5 
			 Holloway 5.7 5.1 6.4 7.1 7.5 
			 Holme House 4.1 4.9 5.0 5.2 6.4 
			 Hull 5.2 5.6 5.4 7.3 7.7 
			 Huntercombe 7.7 8.5 8.7 8.7 8.7 
			 Kingston 7.0 7.7 7.7 7.9 8.0 
			 Kirkham 13.0 13.0 13.0 13.0 12.9 
			 Kirklevington 19.0 19.0 19.0 19.0 19.0 
			 Lancaster 6.8 8.0 7.5 7.5 7.5 
			 Lancaster Farms 17.1 6.6 8.8 9.7 10.0 
			 Latchmere House 19.0 19.0 19.0 19.0 19.0 
			 Leeds 7.1 7.8 7.9 8.1 8.1 
			 Leicester 6.9 7.4 6.8 7.1 7.6 
			 Lewes 6.8 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 
			 Leyhill 24.0 24.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 
			 Lincoln 9.0 8.8 2.5 6.8 7.5 
			 Lindholme 8.7 7.8 7.8 8.4 11.4 
			 Littlehey 7.9 8.4 8.5 7.9 8.1 
			 Liverpool 4.0 4.2 6.2 8.5 8.1 
			 Long Lartin 9.0 9.2 9.2 7.9 7.7 
			 Low Newton 10.1 8.0 8.4 8.5 8.5 
			 Lowdham Grange n/a 13.5 12.8 11.9 11.3 
			 Maidstone 7.3 7.4 7.0 7.7 7.3 
			 Manchester 8.0 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 
			 Moorland 5.3 5.7 5.2 5.7 5.7 
			 Morton Hall 15.5 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 
			 Mount 6.2 6.5 6.8 6.9 6.6 
			 New Hall 7.8 8.1 9.5 11.0 11.1 
			 North Sea Camp 19.3 24.0 19.9 16.7 15.5 
			 Northallerton 5.4 5.5 6.5 6.5 6.8 
			 Norwich 7.0 6.8 6.6 7.3 7.0 
			 Nottingham 5.0 5.0 5.0 3.7 4.1 
			 Onley 13.3 7.2 7.8 7.7 7.6 
			 Pare 9.4 9.9 10.0 10.1 10.3 
			 Parkhurst 8.4 7.0 6.9 6.7 6.8 
			 Pentonville 3.4 4.9 7.1 7.1 7.3 
			 Peterborough n/a n/a n/a n/a 10.0 
			 Portland 13.2 6.1 5.4 5.0 4.5 
			 Preston 4.7 4.9 6.7 7.5 7.5 
			 Ranby 12.0 13.1 9.3 9.7 9.7 
			 Reading 6.8 6.6 6.6 6.6 3.6 
			 Risley 10.1 10.3 10.1 10.0 10.0 
			 Rochester 7.3 7.7 6.1 6.0 4.0 
			 Rye Hill n/a 11.5 11.7 11.7 11.7 
			 Send 13.4 12.8 12.9 12.6 13.0 
			 Shepton Mallet 9.1 9.0 8.9 8.1 8.0 
			 Shrewsbury 10.1 16.8 17.1 13.7 7.0 
			 Stafford 10.8 4.9 4.9 5.4 6.0 
			 Standford Hill 24.0 24.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 
			 Stocken 11.0 8.1 7.0 7.2 7.2 
			 Stoke Heath 9.8 10.1 10.1 10.2 10.2 
			 Styal 11.0 11.5 11.5 11.6 11.4 
			 Sudbury 24.0 19.0 19.0 12.9 12.8 
			 Swaleside 7.0 7.5 7.3 7.2 7.2 
			 Swansea 7.9 8.5 8.6 8.5 n/a 
			 Swinfen Hall 6.3 6.8 6.8 6.8 6.8 
			 Thorn Cross 12.1 12.5 14.6 12.5 12.5 
			 Usk/Prescoed 11.0 11.7 13.7 12.9 12.1 
			 Verne 16.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 
			 Wakefield 6.3 6.6 6.5 6.6 6.5 
			 Wandsworth 7.4 4.7 4.0 4.2 3.7 
			 Warren Hill n/a n/a 9.0 10.0 10.6 
			 Wayland 8.0 7.9 8.8 10.1 10.3 
			 Wealstun 11.8 12.5 11.9 11.1 10.7 
			 Weare 9.0 8.4 8.9 8.4 8.2 
			 Wellingborough 7.0 7.8 8.0 7.7 7.7 
			 Werrington 9.7 10.1 9.5 8.0 7.7 
			 Wetherby 5.0 5.5 6.2 6.5 6.5 
			 Whatton 11.8 9.9 9.2 10.8 9.1 
			 Whitemoor 7.0 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 
			 Winchester 6.1 6.0 6.7 7.1 5.7 
			 Wolds n/a 11.5 10.4 10.6 10.4 
			 Woodhill 8.2 8.5 7.2 6.3 6.3 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 6.8 5.9 5.9 5.1 5.0 
			 Wymott 10.0 10.0 10.1 10.0 10.1 
		
	
	(65) Up to December 2005

Prisons

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in (a) England and (b) London who had completed education training and employment upon release (i) gained employment for over 12 months, (ii) experienced long-term unemployment and (iii) returned to prison in the last five years.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Home Office does not routinely record the post-release outcomes of prisoners.
	While the Home Office does record the numbers of prisoners returning to prison within two years of release (39 per cent. of adult males and 32 per cent. of adult females released in 2001), this is not broken down by whether they completed an Education Training and Employment (ETE) programme in prison.

Prisons

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prisoners was in each category on 31 March in each of the last five years.

Fiona Mactaggart: The percentage of prisoners by category (A, B, C, D, Other) on 31 March 2005 and the previous two years is shown in the following table. The information is not held prior to 2003.
	
		Category of prisoners
		
			 Percentage 
			  31 March 2003 31 March 2004 31 March 2005 
		
		
			 Cat As 1 1 1 
			 Cat Bs 12 11 11 
			 Cat Cs 43 44 45 
			 Cat Ds 7 7 7 
			 Other population 38 37 36 
			 Total population 100 100 100

Probation Service

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to introduce legislation to abolish probation boards and replace them with trusts.

Fiona Mactaggart: We intend to bring forward legislation to restructure probation services as soon as the parliamentary timetable allows.

Probation Service

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed in information technology by the National Probation Service in England and Wales at the end of the past five financial years.

Fiona Mactaggart: Information is not available for the full period requested. Data collected prior to 1 April 2003 is unreliable, and is not directly comparable with the more accurate figures collected since that time. The figures presented show staff in post, expressed in full time equivalent value, at the close of each quarter from 1 April 2003 to 30 September 2005.
	Work force information is not collected in sufficient detail to allow reporting of only those staff working specifically in information technology. The following table shows the number of staff in post in the closest equivalent grouping which includes research, information, and information technology staff.
	
		
			  FTE in post 
		
		
			 200304  
			 Quarter 1 447.50 
			 Quarter 2 445.45 
			 Quarter 3 455.46 
			 Quarter 4 449.63 
			   
			 200405  
			 Quarter 1 441.89 
			 Quarter 2 438.34 
			 Quarter 3 474.01 
			 Quarter 4 466.25 
			   
			 200506  
			 Quarter 1 467.08 
			 Quarter 2 476.07

Prostitution

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of illegal brothels operating in (a) Romford and (b) England and Wales.

Fiona Mactaggart: No estimate is made centrally of the numbers of brothels in particular localities. As part of the recently published prostitution strategy this will be a first task for local partnerships in areas where prostitution is a problem.

Rape Crisis Organisations

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many rape crisis organisations received funding from his Department in each of the last five years; and how much each organisation received.

Paul Goggins: The Home Office funded the Rape Crisis Federation, an umbrella body for local rape crisis groups, from April 2001 until its closure in November 2003.
	Funding in the financial years between 2001 and 2004 was as follows:
	
		
			   Amount () 
		
		
			 (a) 200102 406,000 
			 (b) 200203 432,000 
			 (c) 200304 209,800 
		
	
	In 2004, 4 million was placed in the victims fund to support the development of services for victims of sexual offending, over two financial years. The following table sets out the grant awards for the rape crisis organisations that have been successful in securing funding from the victims fund.
	
		
			
			 Organisation 200405 200506 
		
		
			 Barnsley Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Helpline  40,000 
			 Cornwell Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre 8,120 36,000 
			 Coventry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre 4,910  
			 Colchester Rape Crisis Line 35,450 35,000 
			 Croydon Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre 27,080 40,000 
			 Doncaster Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre 3,066 36,150 
			 Guildford Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre  40,000 
			 Grimsby and Scunthorpe Rape Crisis 6,102 24,405 
			 Merseyside Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre 12,672 22,500 
			 New Pathways 16,500 25,00 
			 Nottingham Rape Crisis  26,515 
			 Rape-Crisis Co-ordination Group 18,200 30,800 
			 South Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre (SERICC) 31,520 30,000 
			 Southampton Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Service 3,700 35,000 
			 West Cumbria Rape Crisis  35,000 
			 Worchester Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre 23,439 24,142 
			 Total 190,759 431,370

Regulatory Reform Orders

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many regulatory reform orders his Department has laid before Parliament in each of the last five calendar years.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Home Office laid one regulatory reform order before Parliament in 2004, which was the Regulatory Reform (Prison Officers) (Industrial Action) Order 2005. It was first laid in draft on 18 October 2004, made on 21 March 2005 and came into force on 22 March 2005. No other regulatory reform order has been laid during the specified period.

Reoffending

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who had been placed in custody have re-offended in (a) Uxbridge constituency, (b) the London borough of Hillingdon, (c) Greater London and (d) England in each year since 1997.

Fiona Mactaggart: Re-offending rates are not currently available on a sub-national basis.
	The most recent re-offending data for adults were published in 'Re- offending of adults: results from the 2002 cohort' which is available through the Home Office's website (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/index.htm). The report shows the proportion of offenders who re-offended within two years and were subsequently convicted, and separately identifies offenders given custodial and community sentences. The report shows the re-offending rate of offenders released from prison for 2002 and 2000.
	Reconviction data for 1997 through 2000 were published in 'Prison statistics England and Wales 2002' and data for 2001 were published in 'Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2003'. Both of these are publications are available on the Home Office website.

Reoffending

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the recidivism rate was among prisoners in the Cambridgeshire Probation Service area within two years of release in each year since 1997.

Fiona Mactaggart: Re-offending rates are not currently available on a sub-national basis.
	National re-offending rates are published annually. The most recent data are published in 'Adult re-offending: results from the 2002 cohort'. Home Office Statistical Bulletin 25/05. This is available on the Home Office's website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/hosbpubs1.html. The report shows the re-offending rate of offenders released from prison for 2002 and 2000.
	Reconviction data for 1997 through 2000 were published in 'Prison statistics England and Wales 2002' and data for 2001 were published in 'Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2003'. Both of these are publications are available on the Home Office website.

Respect

Ann Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce the pilot local authorities for the intensive family support projects outlined in the Respect action plan.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 9 February 2006
	The Respect Action Plan sets out the Government's plans to establish a national network of family support projects in the areas where they are needed. The Respect Task Force is currently discussing this with local authorities. A further announcement on the projects will be made shortly.

Safer Neighbourhood Teams

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hours a week on average the Safer Neighbourhood Teams in the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham worked in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by ward.

Hazel Blears: The following table shows the number of hours per week, on average, that the Safer Neighbourhood Teams worked in the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in November and December 2005. The figures for December are affected by public holidays and annual leave.
	
		Average hours at work per week
		
			 Ward Hours 
		
		
			 November 2005  
			 Addison 210 
			 Askew 254 
			 College Park and Old Oak 269 
			 Fulham Town 327 
			 Hammersmith Broadway 249 
			 North End 279 
			 Parsons Green and Waltham 231 
			 Ravenscourt Park 41 
			 Sands End 249 
			 Shepherds Bush Green 317 
			 Wormholt and White City 259 
			   
			 December 2005  
			 Addison 189 
			 Askew 252 
			 College Park and Old Oak 172 
			 Fulham Town 258 
			 Hammersmith Broadway 238 
			 North End 189 
			 Parsons Green and Waltham 223 
			 Ravenscourt Park 87 
			 Sands End 191 
			 Shepherds Bush Green 230 
			 Wormholt and White City 124

Scottish Intelligence Database

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the potential for the Scottish Intelligence Database to satisfy the recommendations of the Bichard Report.

Hazel Blears: The police service requirement, as articulated in the first progress report on the implementation of the Bichard Inquiry Recommendations, is for an information sharing, as well as intelligence sharing, capability. In developing the business case for the programme, we are looking at a number of options including whether an intelligence database might contribute to the requirement. In that context we have been taking into account the functionality offered by the Scottish Intelligence Database.

Secure Training Centres

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he will take following the Commission for Social Care Inspection report on Oakhill Secure Training Centre; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: Following the Commission's annual inspection of Oakhill in May 2005, the centre's operator drew up an action plan to achieve improvements, which it agreed with the Youth Justice Board. Progress against the plan is reviewed regularly. At the board's request, the Commission's inspectors made a further, unannounced, visit to Oakhill at the end of November, during which they assessed progress against the action plan as well as the overall effectiveness of the centre. Following the visit, the Commission wrote to the board confirming that Oakhill is a safe and secure environment for the children placed there. The operator is reviewing the action plan, in consultation with the board, in order to achieve further improvements; and the board is continuing to monitor the centre's performance closely.

Service Personnel (Criminal Convictions)

Jeremy Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those convicted of a criminal offence in the last year for which figures are available were serving in the armed forces at the time of their offence.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 7 February 2006
	It is not possible to identify cases where those convicted of a criminal offence were serving in the armed forces, as this information is not held centrally by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform or by the Defence Analytical Services Agency (DASA).

Sex Offenders

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce proposals to increase the obligations on convicted sex offenders relating to their ongoing contact with the police.

Paul Goggins: The notification requirementswhich are commonly known as the sex offenders registeroriginally came into force on 1 September 1997. The Sexual Offences Act 2003 repealed and re-enacted those requirements with considerable amendments.
	An offender who becomes subject to the notification requirements must, within three days of conviction or caution, notify the police, in person and at a prescribed police station: of his name, address, date of birth and national insurance number; of any change to their name or their address; if they spend seven days or more (whether consecutively or within a 12 month period) at an address they have not already notified to the police; and of any overseas travel for a period of three days or more.
	All offenders must ensure that they re-confirm their notified details at least once every 12 months. If an offender fails to comply with these notification requirements then he commits a criminal offence with a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment.
	We continue to monitor closely the effectiveness of the notification requirements and we will act if further obligations are shown to be necessary and proportionate.

Sex Shops

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers local authorities have to refuse to license new sex shops in their areas.

Paul Goggins: The main powers for local authorities to control sex shops are contained in the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1982. It is adoptive legislation and it is for a local authority to decide whether to apply it to their area. Schedule three provides for the control and licensing of sex establishments. The powers to refuse to grant or renew licences are contained in paragraph 12. The grounds for refusal include: consideration of the suitability of the applicant and of the locality of the premises to be licensed. It is for local authorities to determine how many licences to grant in a locality and they may decide that nil is an appropriate number.

Stronger Safer Communities Fund

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was allocated to Swindon from the stronger safer communities fund in (a) 200405 and (b) 200506; and how much is planned to be allocated in 200607.

Hazel Blears: The Safer and Stronger Communities Fund (SSCF), which merges some central Government funding streams, is to be rolled out to all areas in England on 1 April 2006. The Home Office contribution to SSCF includes the building safer communities fund. The Swindon Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) was allocated a total of 217,179 from the building safer communities fund in 200405. This included a 25,000 grant towards the cost of an antisocial behaviour co-ordinator. The same amount was allocated in 200506.
	No SSCF funding has been given to Swindon from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in either of those financial years.
	Details of funding for 200607 have yet to be announced.

Under-age Drinking

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have taken place for underage drinking in Uxbridge in each year since 1990.

Hazel Blears: There is no specific offence of under-age drinking.
	However, the available information from the Court Proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform, gives the number of defendants aged 1017 years who were proceeded against in Uxbridge PSA, for offences of being drunk, drunk at a designated sports event and drunk and disorderly together with defendants proceeded against for the offence of: Selling etc., intoxicating liquor to persons under 18 for consumption on the premises, 19902004. Please see following table.
	Statistics for 2005 will be available in the autumn.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against in Uxbridge PSA for alcohol related offences involving under 18-year-olds, 1990 to 2004(66)
		
			  Offence description Principal statute 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 
		
		
			  Defendants aged 1017 years 
			 14001 Drunk in a highway or other public place whether a building or not, or on licensed premises Licensing Act 1872 s.12   1 
			   
			 14362 Drunk in, or when entering, a designated sports event Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985 s.2(2)
			   
			 14101 Being guilty, while drunk, of disorderly behaviour Criminal Justice Act 1967 s.91 2 6   4 3  
			   
			  All defendants 
			 14203 Selling etc. intoxicating liquor to person under 18 for consumption on the premises Licensing Act 1964 s.169A and B as added by Licensing (Young Persons) Act 2000 s.1  4  2  1  
		
	
	
		
			  Offence description Principal statute 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			  Defendants aged 1017 years  
			 14001 Drunk in a highway or other public place whether a building or not, or on licensed premises Licensing Act 1872 s.121 
			
			 14362 Drunk in, or when entering, a designated sports event Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985 s.2(2) 
			
			 14101 Being guilty, while drunk, of disorderly behaviour Criminal Justice Act 1967 s.91  4 2 6 7 9 5 8 
			
			  All defendants  
			 14203 Selling etc. intoxicating liquor to person under 18 for consumption on the premises Licensing Act 1964 s.169A and B as added by Licensing (Young Persons) Act 2000 s.1  1 213 8 
		
	
	(66) These data are on the principal offence basis

Visas

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications made in the United Kingdom for a visa submitted prior to the introduction of the new charging policy on 1 August 2003 remain to be dealt with; and when he expects that all such applicants will have heard the result of their applications.

Charles Clarke: The date of the introduction of the new charging policy, 1 August 2003, precedes accurate data from the current casework database, and statistics are therefore not entirely reliable. Provisional management information suggests around 500 general group leave to remain cases submitted prior to 1 August 2003 are undecided. Consideration of these cases is ongoing and applicants will be notified as soon as a decision in their case has been made.

Work Permits

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many teachers working in the United Kingdom have been issued (a) visas and (b) work permits to work in the UK.

Kim Howells: I have been asked to reply
	UKvisas does not hold statistics on the numbers of applicants who apply for and are granted visas at our overseas missions to work as teachers in the UK.
	In terms of work permit applications, the figures for permissions to teach in schools and colleges in the UK that were granted to foreign nationals in the last four years is as follows:
	
		
			  Permissions 
		
		
			 2002 8,353 
			 2003 6,463 
			 2004 5,084 
			 2005 4,349

Young Offenders

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people of school age have been placed in custody in (a) Ruislip-Northwood constituency, (b) the London borough of Hillingdon, (c) Greater London and (d) England in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested for Greater London and England is provided in the table. No people of school age were received into custody in the Ruislip-Northwood constituency or the London borough of Hillingdon.
	Information for prison establishments is as recorded on the Prison Service IT system.
	Information for Secure Training Centres and Local Authority Secure Children's Homes has been supplied by the Youth Justice Board.
	
		Number of people of school age (15 and under) received into custody between 2000 and 2004
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 England  
			 Prison 1,672 1,695 1,752 1,518 1,696 
			 LASCHS and STCs 1,015 1,407 2,161 2,459 2,765 
			   
			 Greater London  
			 Prison 326 175 277 239 254 
			 LASCHS and STCs 34 30 25 35 50

HEALTH

Alcohol Consumption

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate she has made of the proportion of (a) men and (b) women who drink more than the recommended weekly amounts of alcohol; and what assessment she has made of trends in alcohol consumption since 1979.

Caroline Flint: The Department can provide estimates of the percentage of men and women exceeding the recommended weekly alcohol consumption limit in England from 1992 to 2002 which is shown in table 1. Earlier data are not readily available for England only. We are also able to give estimates of the percentage of men and women exceeding the recommended daily alcohol limit in England from 1998 to 2004 which is shown in table 2. The assessment of alcohol consumption is that the figures have remained constant during the periods covered.
	
		Table 1: Percentage of adults aged 16 and over exceeding the recommended weekly alcohol benchmark (21 units for men, 14 units for women) by gender, England 1992 to 2002
		
			  Unweighted Weighted 
			 Alcohol consumption level (units per week) 1992 1994 1996 1998 1998 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Men 
			 22 units and over 26 27 27 27 28 28 27 27 
			  
			 Women 
			 15 units and over 12 13 14 15 15 17 15 17 
			  
			 Weighted bases (thousand) 
			 Men 16,541 17,594 17,192 16,781 
			 Women 18,518 18,912 18,847 19,160 
			  
			 Unweighted bases 
			 Men 7,265 6,603 6,145 5,621 5,621 5,704 6,124 5,906 
			 Women 8,364 7,832 7,227 6,661 6,661 6,442 7,157 6,889 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. In 2000 the decision was made to weight the data to compensate for under representation of people in some groups.
	2. This table shows weighted and unweighted date for 1998 to give an indication of the effect of weighting. Caution should be exercises when comparing weighted date with unweighted data.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics General Household Survey 2002.
	
		Table 2: Percentage of adults aged 16 and over exceeding the daily recommended alcohol benchmark (4 units for men, 3 units for women) on at least one day in the last week by gender, England 1998 to 2004
		
			  Men weighted bases Women weighted bases 
			  Percentage Thousand Percentage Thousand 
		
		
			 1998 39 16,527 21 18,512 
			 2000 38 17,604 22 18,955 
			 2001 39 17,207 22 18,851 
			 2002 37 16,780 22 19,150 
			 2003 40 16,676 22 18,616 
			 2004 39 16,818 22 19,097 
		
	
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics General Household Survey 2004

Ambulance Service

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the likely effect on the performance of combined emergency services control rooms of mergers of ambulance services.

Liam Byrne: The Department is currently consulting on proposals for reconfiguration of ambulance trusts within England, and if established, it would be a matter for the proposed ambulance trusts to decide, following consultation, whether be appropriate locally.

Ambulance Service

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will issue guidance to ambulance trusts to ensure that first responders are not used as a substitute for fully equipped ambulances in life-threatening situations.

Liam Byrne: Guidance is set out in the statistical bulletin, Ambulance services, England: 200405 which states that an emergency response may be by:
	an emergency ambulance: or
	a rapid response vehicle equipped with a defibrillator to provide treatment at the scene; or
	an approved first responder equipped with a defibrillator, despatched by and accountable to the ambulance service.
	Although the initial emergency response may be to send a rapid response vehicle or approved first responder, a fully equipped Ambulance vehicle able to transport the patient in a clinically safe manner is still required to attend the incident within 14 minutes of the initial call in urban areas and within 19 minutes in rural areas.
	Both these standards are exceeded nationally, with in 200405, 76.2 percent, of category A calls receiving an initial response within eight minutes and 96 percent, of category A calls attended by a fully equipped ambulance within the 14 and 19 minute standards.

Ambulance Service

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the use by ambulance trusts of first responders; and what effect the use of first responders has had on ambulance response figures since they were introduced.

Liam Byrne: Clinical evidence proves conclusively that early defibrillation and resuscitation saves more lives. The use of first responders, particularly in rural areas, can help to ensure that patients receive advanced life support as soon as possible and therefore improve outcomes.
	The national defibrillation programme has funded community defibrillation officer posts in ambulance trusts. One of the roles of the community defibrillation officers is to monitor the impact of first responder schemes and this work is currently underway.
	No national assessment has been made of the effect of the use of first responders on ambulance trust response times.

Asbestosis

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures are in place to enable claims for compensation by those who have contracted asbestosis in the course of their work in the NHS.

Jane Kennedy: The ownership of buildings, previously used or currently used by the national health service may relate to strategic health authorities, NHS trusts, foundation trusts and primary care trusts. These are independent bodies and hence there is no standard procedure regarding the handling of claims for compensation by those who have contracted asbestosis in the course of their work in the NHS.

Assisted Suicide

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on assisted suicide;
	(2)  if she will make it her policy to oppose the Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill [Lords]; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Assisted suicide is an offence under the Suicide Act. We have no plans to change the legislation in this area. The issues raised by Lord Joffe's Bill have always been dealt with as a matter of conscience and it is appropriate that Parliament should lead on debates of this nature and provide the forum where all shades of opinion can be heard.

Audiology Services

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average pay for (a) qualified audiologists and (b) audiology assistants in London hospitals was in the last year for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: The Department does not hold the information in the format requested. However, the table shows the estimated average annual salary and earnings of consultant specialists in audiology and qualified and unqualified non-medical staff working in audiology employed by the national health service in the London Government office region as at August 2004.
	
		Estimated average annual salary and earnings of consultant specialists in audiology and qualified and unqualified non medical staff working in audiology employed by the NHS in the London Government office region as at August 2004
		
			 London Government office region as at August 2004 Estimated average annual salary () Estimated average annual earnings () 
		
		
			 Medical   
			 Consultant Specialists in Audiological Medicine 75,500 82,700 
			 Non-medical   
			 Qualified Clinical Scientist (Grade A and B) Audiology 30,000 33,600 
			 Qualified MTO/ Technician Audiology 24,800 27,500 
			 Assistant Audiologists (unqualified) 13,900 16,500 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The Earnings Survey is based on a sample of approximately 50 per cent. of NHS trusts. Figures are from SPS payroll data from all trusts in the survey for the month of August 2004.
	2. Earnings figures are based on monthly payments in August, multiplied by 12 to give annual equivalent amounts.
	3. Earnings figures are rounded to the nearest hundred pounds.
	4. The sample used in the survey is not necessarily geographically or structurally representative of all trusts in London Government office region.
	5. The sample size of both staff groups is small and hence estimated average annual salary and earnings of individuals within these groups maybe subject to some variability.
	Sources:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre 2004 NHS Staff Earnings Survey.
	Health and Social Care Information Centre 2004 Medical and Dental Workforce Census
	Health and Social Care Information Centre 2004 Non Medical Workforce Census

Avian Influenza

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 10 November 2005, Official Report, columns 664W, on avian influenza, what representations she has received about the adequacy of the escalation plans.

Rosie Winterton: It is important to be clear about the differences between seasonal influenza, avian influenza and pandemic influenza. Avian influenza is a disease which mainly affects birds, Seasonal influenza refers to the virus that circulates in the human population and causes widespread illness each winter. Pandemic influenza will only occur after an avian virus has mutated into a novel strain which can spread easily between humans and to which they do not have immunity.
	We are working with the Intensive Care Society and other operational organisations in order to develop revised guidance against which local national health service emergency planners can assess their critical care plans for any outbreak of pandemic influenza.

Avian Influenza

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans are in place in the UK to tackle an H5N1 influenza pandemic; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: It is important to be clear about the differences between seasonal influenza, avian influenza and pandemic influenza. Avian influenza is a disease which mainly affects birds. Seasonal influenza refers to the virus that circulates in the human population and causes widespread illness each winter. Pandemic influenza will only occur after an avian virus has mutated into a novel strain which can spread easily between humans and to which they do not have immunity.
	The United Kingdom has had a national influenza pandemic plan since 1997 and was one of the first countries to publish a pandemic plan. This plan has been updated and the Government published the revised, UK Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan on 19 October 2005. The revised plan outlines the actions that Government and other authorities are taking to prepare for a possible pandemic, and the actions that different organisations would take in the event of a pandemic to slow down the spread of infection and minimise disruption. The plan can be accessed on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/pandemicflu.

Bexley Primary Healthcare Trust

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations she has received on the funding of Bexley Primary Healthcare Trust.

Jane Kennedy: There has been one letter received by the Department on the subject of general practitioner funding in Bexley care trust.

Capsticks Solicitors

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the charge per hour is for legal advice provided by Capsticks solicitors to the NHS in connection with defending clinical negligence claims.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 13 February 2006
	The agreed charge per hour for legal advice provided by all NHS Litigation Authority panel solicitors to the national health service in connection with defending clinical negligence claims is shown in the table. This rate is also the agreed rate for all panel firms who have approved offices in London.
	
		
			 Defence fee per hour (Capsticks)  
		
		
			 Nominated partner 185 
			 Other partners and/or 10 years post qualification experience 175 
			 Solicitors under 10 years post qualification experience 155 
			 Legal executives 95

Community Hospitals

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many community hospitals there are in England.

Liam Byrne: The newly published White Paper Our health, our care, our say: a new direction for community services is available in the Library and on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/12/74/59/04127459.pdf.
	Paragraph 6.41 of this publication states that:
	'It is estimated that there are 350 community hospitals in England, if we use the definition of a community hospital as 'a service which offers integrated health and social care and is supported by community-based professionals'.

Community Hospitals

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the number of community hospitals which may close as a result of primary care trust deficits.

Liam Byrne: The Department has carried out no such assessment.
	However, the newly published White Paper, Our health, our care, our say: a new direction for community services makes clear that community facilities should not be closed in response to short-term budgetary pressures that are not related to the viability of the community facility itself.

Community Hospitals

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government has taken to support the continued operation of community hospitals before the publication of the White Paper on Health and Social Care in the Community.

Liam Byrne: The Department has been working with the Community Hospitals Association, which led to the launch of an online toolkit in October 2005. The toolkit is available on the Care Services Improvement Partnership's website at www.developingcommunityhospitals.org.uk and provides support to those people involved with the development of community hospitals.

Community Hospitals

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her oral statement of 30 January 2006, Official Report, columns 2138W, 
	(1)  on health and social care services, whether Bicester will be the location of one of the new generation of community hospitals with intermediate beds;
	(2)  how many new community hospitals she expects will be built as part of the new generation of community hospitals; how many of these she expects will have intermediate beds; and what new money will be provided for the (a) construction and (b) running of new community hospitals.

Liam Byrne: As confirmed in the recent White Paper 'Our health, our care, our say: a new direction for community services', the Government fully intends to fulfil their manifesto commitment to develop a new generation of modern national health service community hospitals over the next five years. To make this possible an initial capital investment of 100 million to build, rebuild, or refurbish at least 50 community hospitals has been identified.
	However, configuration of local service provision facilities remains a matter for primary care trusts. Paragraph 6.44 of the white paper explains that the Department will be inviting:
	interested primary care trusts, where appropriate working with local authority partners, to bid for capital support for reinvestment in the new generation of community hospitals and smaller facilities offering local, integrated health and social care services. This will provide the opportunity to create many new community hospitals, as we have done with LIFT projects, and to expand services on existing community hospital sites if more appropriate. The details of the timing and the tender process will be published in a separate document in mid-2006.

Dentistry

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 10 November 2005, Official Report, column 665W, on dentistry, if she will give details of the recommendations made by the Joint Implementation Group to the board of Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Rosie Winterton: On 26 January, my hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Higher Education and Lifelong Learning (Bill Rammell) made a Ministerial Statement to Parliament, Official Report, column 65WS, to announce that the board of the Higher Education Funding Council for England had accepted bids from the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth for a new Peninsula Dental school with places for 62 students; the Universities of Liverpool and Central Lancashire for the development of 32 outreach training places for dental students in Lancashire and Cumbria; and the University of Leeds for six new places to develop outreach training for dental students in Hull.
	These decisions were made in accordance with the recommendations of the joint implementation group.

Dentistry

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate her Department has made of the number of people not registered with an NHS dentist; and of those how many are estimated to be using emergency dental facilities.

Rosie Winterton: As at 30 September 2005, the number of people registered with a national health service dentist, with a general dental services (GDS) and personal dental services (PDS) contract, in England was 24,203,150. We estimate this figure to be 48 percent., of the total population in England.
	The number of patients treated in the emergency dental services in the year ending March 2005 was 235,506.
	Notes:
	Registrations data includes GDS and PDS registrations/PDS patients seen (counts patients seen in the past 15 months for some PDS schemes).
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board

Dentistry

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dental practices there are in each strategic health authority; and how many of them are (a) not registering new NHS patients, (b) not registering new charge paying adult NHS patients and (c) accepting all new patient registrations.

Rosie Winterton: Information on the number of national health service dental practices that are registering new patients is not collected centrally.
	The number of general dental services and personal dental services dental surgery addresses in England, as at 31 December 2005, broken down by strategic health authority (SHA) is shown in the table.
	
		
			 SHA Number of dental surgery addresses 
		
		
			 England 8,963 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 350 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 333 
			 Essex 250 
			 North West London 416 
			 North Central London 288 
			 North East London 245 
			 South East London 255 
			 South West London 282 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 224 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 170 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire 275 
			 West Yorkshire 343 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 340 
			 Greater Manchester 459 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 436 
			 Thames Valley 440 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 332 
			 Kent and Medway 266 
			 Surrey and Sussex 590 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 404 
			 South West Peninsula 291 
			 Dorset and Somerset 240 
			 South Yorkshire 209 
			 Trent 389 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland 240 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 243 
			 Birmingham and The Black Country 400 
			 West Midland South 253 
		
	
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board

Dentistry

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she intends the new contracts negotiated between dentists and primary care trusts under the new General Dental Services contract to be of one year's length.

Rosie Winterton: A new general dental services contract will not have any fixed duration.

Dentistry

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many self-employed dentists have been contracted to the NHS in each of the past 30 years.

Rosie Winterton: Most general dental practitioners are self-employed contractors working in general dental services (GDS) and personal dental services (PDS). The number of GDS and PDS dentists in England and Wales as at 30 September-each year is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of dentists 
		
		
			 1976 12,360 
			 1977 12,517 
			 1978 12,758 
			 1979 13,039 
			 1980 13,473 
			 1981 13,936 
			 1982 14,374 
			 1983 14,780 
			 1984 15,076 
			 1985 15,076 
			 1986 15,256 
			 1987 15,545 
			 1988 15,868 
			 1989 16,178 
			 1990 16,234 
			 1991 16,263 
			 1992 16,221 
			 1993 16,608 
			 1994 16,725 
			 1995 16,818 
			 1996 17,220 
			 1997 17,633 
			 1998 18,265 
			 1999 18,826 
			 2000 19,218 
			 2001 19,736 
			 2002 19,969 
			 2003 20,292 
			 2004 20,751 
			 2005 21,755 
		
	
	Notes:
	PDS dentistry began in 1998 and therefore, the figures for 19751997 are GDS only dentists.
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board

Dentistry

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on the provision of children's NHS dental services in Gloucestershire;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the provision of NHS dentistry in each of the six constituencies in Gloucestershire; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 6 February 2006
	It is for primary care trusts to make decisions about the provision of local dental services.
	However, according to figures held by the Department, between November 2004 and November 2005 there has been an increase in the Gloucestershire area, of 1.2 per cent. in the total number of general dental services (GDS) and personal dental services (PDS) registrations, and 1.5 per cent. increase in child GDS and PDS registrations.

Dentistry

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists there are in each primary care trust area; and what net change in the number of dentists in each primary care trust area the Government expects as a result of the implementation of the new NHS dental contract.

Rosie Winterton: Information on the number of dentists in each primary care trust(PCT) has been placed in the Library.
	The Department has not made a specific assessment of any changes arising from the new dental contract. From April 2006, PCTs will have devolved responsibility for the commissioning of primary dental services. This means that they will be responsible for commissioning dental services to reflect the needs of their local areas. All dentists currently practising in the general dental services and personal dental services are legally entitled to new contracts. If any dentists choose not to take up the new contract, PCTs will use the funding in their devolved budgets to re-commission services from other dentists.

Finished Consultant Episodes (Costs)

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give the average cost per finished consultant episode, broken down by specialty, for each health authority in England in the last year for which records are available.

Liam Byrne: The table shows the reference cost index score for health authorities (HA) in 200203, the latest year for which data is available. The reference cost index score compares the cost incurred by national health service providers with the expected cost for the providers level of activity, were they providers to be operating at national average costs. A score of 100 indicates operational at national average costs, above 100 indicates operational at above national average costs and below 100 below national average costs.
	
		
			 HA name HA index adjusted for market forces factor 
		
		
			 Hillingdon 102 
			 Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster 106 
			 Redbridge and Waltham Forest 102 
			 Bedfordshire 95 
			 Berkshire 96 
			 Buckinghamshire 99 
			 Croydon 102 
			 West Kent 103 
			 Kingston and Richmond 99 
			 Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham 104 
			 Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth 108 
			 East Surrey 105 
			 West Surrey 98 
			 East Sussex, Brighton and Hove 104 
			 West Sussex 102 
			 Barking and Havering 103 
			 Brent and Harrow 100 
			 Camden and Islington 101 
			 Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow 94 
			 East London and the City 99 
			 North Essex 103 
			 South Essex 92 
			 South Lancashire 103 
			 Liverpool 108 
			 Manchester 117 
			 Morecambe Bay 101 
			 St. Helens and Knowsley 97 
			 Salford and Trafford 96 
			 Sefton 93 
			 Stockport 100 
			 West Pennine 97 
			 Northamptonshire 91 
			 Oxfordshire 111 
			 Suffolk 89 
			 Barnsley 102 
			 North Derbyshire 94 
			 Southern Derbyshire 94 
			 Doncaster 91 
			 Leicestershire 100 
			 Lincolnshire 102 
			 North Nottinghamshire 97 
			 Nottingham 84 
			 Rotherham 98 
			 Sheffield 102 
			 Bury and Rochdale 100 
			 North Cheshire 104 
			 South Cheshire 94 
			 East Lancashire 91 
			 North-west Lancashire 97 
			 North and mid Hampshire 99 
			 Southampton and South-west Hampshire 97 
			 Somerset 100 
			 South and West Devon 98 
			 Wiltshire 100 
			 Avon 113 
			 Birmingham 108 
			 Wigan and Bolton 87 
			 Wirral 100 
			 Bradford 107 
			 County Durham and Darlington 96 
			 East Riding and Hull ha 101 
			 Gateshead and South Tyneside 98 
			 Leeds 112 
			 Newcastle and North Tyneside 96 
			 North Cumbria 109 
			 South Humber 102 
			 Northumberland 92 
			 Sunderland 97 
			 Tees 92 
			 Wakefield 99 
			 North Yorkshire 91 
			 Calderdale and Kirklees 99 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 94 
			 Dorset 90 
			 North and East Devon 91 
			 Gloucestershire 98 
			 Coventry 102 
			 Dudley 108 
			 Herefordshire 105 
			 Sandwell 108 
			 Shropshire 98 
			 Solihull no providers hosted 
			 North Staffordshire 102 
			 South Staffordshire 101 
			 Walsall 100 
			 Warwickshire 87 
			 Wolverhampton 94 
			 Worcestershire 111 
			 Cambridgeshire 98 
			 Norfolk 88 
			 Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South-east Hampshire 97 
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey 108 
			 Hertfordshire 95 
			 Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich 104 
		
	
	Source:
	NHS reference costs

Finished Consultant Episodes (Costs)

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give the average cost per finished consultant episode, broken down by specialty, for each strategic health authority in England in each year for which records are available.

Liam Byrne: The table shows the reference cost index score for strategic health authorities (SHAs) in 200304. This is the first year SHAs were fully operational and is the latest year for which data are publicly available. The reference cost index score compares the cost incurred by national health service providers with the expected cost for the providers level of activity, were they providers to be operating at national average costs. A score of 100 indicates operational at national average costs, above 100 indicates operational at above national average costs and below 100 below national average costs.
	
		
			 Organisation name SHA index adjusted for market forces factor 
		
		
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Health Authority 95 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Health Authority 101 
			 Essex Health Authority 96 
			 North West London Health Authority 98 
			 North East London Health Authority 99 
			 South East London Health Authority 104 
			 South West London Health Authority 102 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Health Authority 99 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley Health Authority 103 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Health Authority 101 
			 West Yorkshire Health Authority 106 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire Health Authority 99 
			 Greater Manchester Health Authority 101 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside Health Authority 101 
			 Thames Valley Health Authority 96 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight Health Authority 97 
			 Kent and Medway Health Authority 101 
			 Surrey and Sussex Health Authority 98 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Health Authority 99 
			 South West Peninsula Health Authority 101 
			 Somerset and Dorset Health Authority 92 
			 South Yorkshire Health Authority 105 
			 Trent Health Authority 103 
			 Leicester, Northampton and Rutland Health Authority 98 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire Health Authority 100 
			 Birmingham and The Black Country Health Authority 102 
			 West Midlands South Health Authority 99 
		
	
	Source:
	NHS reference costs

Freedom of Information Act

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what total sum has been received by her Department for the provision of information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in its first year of operation.

Liam Byrne: The Department has not received any money for provision of information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, either in the form of fees where the cost of processing a request would have exceeded the appropriate limit or in payment for disbursements.
	The Freedom of Information Act allows for public authorities to determine when the cost of processing a request will exceed the appropriate limit, which for central Government are set at 600 and for the wider public sector 450. In this instance the public authority may decide to either approach the applicant to help them refine their request and where possible to bring it under the appropriate limit. Alternatively, public authorities may charge the applicant the cost of processing the request. There is, however, no obligation for Departments to provide information if the cost of processing the request exceeds the appropriate limit.
	Public authorities may also charge for disbursements when handling requests where it is deemed appropriate. Further information on the FOI fees regime can be found on the Department for Constitutional Affairs' website at www.foi.gov.uk/feesguide.htm.

Health Service Finance

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acute trusts which are in deficit have an operational private finance initiative (PFI) scheme; and in how many such trusts the annual PFI charge is more than a quarter of the deficit.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member for Great Grimsby to the reply I gave on 3 November 2005, Official Report, column 1347W. All nine national health service trusts reported as having an operational private finance initiative (PFI) scheme have annual unitary charges that are more than a quarter of the deficit.
	Unitary payments on a PFI schemepaid for from a trust's general revenue allocationsinclude elements for hard and soft facilities management services, financing costs as well as ensuring the availability of the facility.

Health White Paper

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she plans to initiate the review of personal medical services funding described in paragraph 3.31, of the White Paper, Our Health, Our Care, Our Say; in which financial year she expects the findings of the review to be implemented; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: We plan to commence initial work on the review in the spring. Findings of the review, including any proposals for implementation, are due to be completed by early 2007.

Health White Paper

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she plans to publish the review of General Medical Services funding described in paragraph 3.30, of the White Paper, Our Health, Our Care, Our Say; who is conducting the review; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The group undertaking this review is chaired by NHS Employers and includes membership drawn from each of the four United Kingdom health departments, the general practitioner committee of the British Medical Association, the national health service as well as commissioned academic and technical support.
	It is anticipated that the group will report on its findings and recommendations during 200607.

Hip Replacements

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her opinion piece in The Independent on 19 January, what the evidential basis is for her statement that hip replacements are 20 percent. lower among lower social groups despite a 30 percent. higher need.

Liam Byrne: The evidential basis was from a study published in the British Journal of General Practice, 1995 Mar;45(392); 12731. From the surgery to the surgeon: does deprivation influence consultation and operation rates?

Hospital Beds (Coventry)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds were available in (a) general and (b) acute wards in each hospital in Coventry South on the latest date for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 24 January 2006
	The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire National Health Service Trust
		
			  Average daily number of available general and acute beds, 200405 
		
		
			 Acute 1,205 
			 General  
		
	
	Notes:
	1. General beds are defined as geriatric beds.
	2. The Department does not collect data at hospital level. The data shown is on a provider rather than commissioner basis.
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH03

Hospital Trusts (South-east London)

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations she has received on the funding of hospital trusts in South East London.

Jane Kennedy: There have been three parliamentary questions asked by Members of Parliament. There has been one letter from a Member of Parliament and there has been one meeting with a group of Members of Parliament from Lewisham.

Hospitals (Coventry)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many meetings have taken place in the last 12 months between the Coventry strategic health authority and (a) chief executives of trusts and (b) non-executive directors of trusts to discuss possible changes to hospital services in Coventry; and what the date was of each meeting.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 24 January 2006
	The information requested is not held centrally. It can be obtained direct from the West Midlands South strategic health authority.

Independent Sector Elective Treatment

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health why locally procured independent sector elective treatment is not separately identified in the annual financial returns of NHS (a) trusts, (b) primary care trusts and (c) health authorities.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 30 January 2006
	As a result of changes to the collection of data from the national health service to reduce bureaucracy we no longer collect such data.

Jewish Festivals

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her Department did to (a) celebrate Hanukkah and (b) mark Yom Kippur in 2005.

Liam Byrne: The Department did not hold specific events in 2005 to celebrate either of these festivals.

Kettering General Hospital Trust

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent discussions she has had with Kettering general hospital trust about its capacity to meet the six-month maximum waiting time for in-patient treatment;
	(2)  if she will allocate dedicated funds to Kettering general hospital trust to ensure it meets the six-month maximum waiting time for in-patient treatment.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 7 February 2006
	There have been no recent discussions between the ministerial team at the Department and the Kettering general hospital national health service trust about this issue.
	Funds are not allocated directly to NHS trusts. Funds are allocated directly to primary care trusts (PCTs) who are responsible for commissioning services to meet the needs of their respective communities. 267.3 million was allocated to the Northamptonshire Heartlands PCT in 200506, a cash increase of 9.5 per cent. on the previous year.
	At the end of December 2005, there were no patients waiting for six months for in-patient treatment at the Kettering general hospital NHS trust.

Late Payment

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice she has issued to hospital trusts and primary care trusts about late payment of bills.

Liam Byrne: Over a number of years, The Department have issued guidance to the national health service that emphasises the importance placed on prompt payment of bills, and the need to comply with the Confederation of British Industry's better payment practice code.
	All NHS trusts, primary care trusts and strategic health authorities are required to meet a better payment practice code target of paying 95 per cent. of bills within contract terms or 30 days where no terms were agreed.

Litigation (Devon)

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of litigation against (a) Torbay hospital, (b) Royal Devon and Exeter and (c) Derriford hospital there have been in each of the past five years; and how many cases for each hospital remain outstanding.

Caroline Flint: The number of clinical negligence claims made against Torbay hospital, Royal Devon and Exeter and Derriford hospital in each of the past five years; and the number of outstanding cases for each hospital are in the table. Information on the number of non-clinical litigation cases by each hospital is not collected centrally. This information was supplied by the NHS Litigation Authority.
	
		All clinical negligence claims received
		
			 Derriford hospital 
			 NHSLA notification year Clinical negligence scheme for trusts Existing liabilities scheme Total Number of claims still open 
		
		
			 200001 22 10 32 4 
			 200102 52 1 53 6 
			 200203 88 5 93 5 
			 200304 91 6 97 29 
			 200405 56  56 23 
			 Total67 
			  
			 Royal Devon and Exeter (Heavitree) 
			 200001 8 12 20 1 
			 200102 17 4 21 2 
			 200203 13 1 14 3 
			 200304 16 1 17 4 
			 200405 6  6 1 
			 Total11 
			  
			 Royal Devon and Exeter (Wonford) 
			 200001 3 3 6 0 
			 200102 14  14 0 
			 200203 19 3 22 1 
			 200304 10 1 11 4 
			 200405 8  8 4 
			 Total9 
			  
			 Torbay District General Hospital 
			 200001 13 12 25 1 
			 200102 54 9 63 7 
			 200203 38 4 42 3 
			 200304 32 1 33 6 
			 200405 19  19 7 
			 Total24

Management Consultancy Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on management consultancy services in the NHS in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: Information relating to expenditure on management consultancy services by national health service bodies is not held centrally.

Medical Provision (Aylesbury Vale)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with the Deputy Prime Minister about the number of extra (a) hospital beds and (b) GP surgeries that will be required in Aylesbury Vale as a result of the planned expansion of housing.

Rosie Winterton: Responsibility for the provision of local services rests with local national health service organisations in conjunction with other key stakeholders. However it must be stressed that different models of care may mean that services are delivered differently in line with improving NHS services.

Medicinal Products

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role her Department plays in promoting innovation in and development of new medicinal products; and what support it gives to small and medium sized enterprises for such purposes.

Jane Kennedy: Through the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme (PPRS), the Department seeks to achieve a balance between reasonable prices for the national health service and a fair return for the industry to enable it to research, develop and market new and improved medicines. The 2005 scheme provides significant support for research and development (R and D) and innovation through improved allowances to a maximum of 28 percent., of NHS sales including greater incentives for innovative medicines and those for children. The scheme allows for flexibility with regard to the circumstances of individual small companies. The scheme also allows freedom of pricing for new innovative medicines at their United Kingdom launch and allows a return on capital of almost 30 percent., before profits have to be repaid or prices reduced.
	The Department provides the NHS with the support and infrastructure it needs to conduct research for the benefit of patients and the wider public, including clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of potential new medicinal products. This infrastructure is open to our partners, including industry. Implementation of the Department's new strategy for research in the NHS published last month, Best Research for Best Health, will establish the UK as a world class environment for medical research, development and innovation, through a programme of investment and reforms to enable medicines to be developed more quickly and more cheaply.
	The Department has asked the UK Clinical Research Collaboration, which brings together the public, private and voluntary sector, to hold a futures forum to advise Ministers on priority areas for innovation in healthcare. The aim of this is to foster a better common understanding between policy makers and those developing new therapies on the priority areas for future innovation.

Mental Health

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on average per mental health patient by each local health authority area for the past 30 years in real terms in descending order.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not available in the requested format. However, information on mental health expenditure per head of mental health weighted population in each primary care trust is available from the national programme budget project for 200304 and 200405. This information has been placed in the Library.

Mesothelioma Research Group

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will ensure the continued operation of the Mesothelioma Research Group based at St Bartholomew's and the London hospitals; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 6 February 2006
	The improving cancer care programme led by the Barts and the London national health service trust, in collaboration with a range of NHS and academic partners, has received 8 million of NHS research and development support funding in 200506.
	The trust is free to use this funding to achieve the best return on its investment in the broad spectrum of cancer research covered by the programme, and is not obliged to support work on specific types of the disease. The priority given to mesothelioma research within the trust has therefore been a matter for local decision and will remain so next year. In the future, in line with our new research strategy, Best Research for Best Health, these researchers will be able to apply for National Institute for Health Research project or programme grants.

Morning-after Pill

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the reasons for the divergence in the prescription cost and the over-the-counter price of the morning-after pill; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: None. The national health service prescription charge is a flat-rate charge and is not directly related to the cost of the item prescribed. All NHS prescribed contraception, including emergency contraception, is dispensed free-of-charge.
	Medication purchased direct from a pharmacy, is a private transaction and is not controlled by the Government. Prices are set competitively by retailers and include value added tax and a margin for the pharmacist.

NHS Financial Management

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2006, Official Report, column 594W, on NHS financial management, if she will set out examples from case studies presented by the foundation trust network demonstrating new ways of working; and how she has evaluated whether the freedoms conferred by foundation status have allowed NHS foundation trusts to introduce new approaches to patient care more quickly and efficiently than NHS trusts.

Liam Byrne: As a membership organisation, the Foundation Trust Network (FTN) is open to authorised and aspirant national health service foundation trust (NHSFTs). Case studies presented by the FTN are available at www.foundationtrustnetwork.org.
	These and other independent case studies are demonstrating how the freedoms available to NHSFTs are allowing them to improve services for their communities, and in some cases innovate new approaches to patient care more quickly than as a national health service trust.

Nurse Advisers

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to introduce new regulations on the status and influence of nurse advisers.

Jane Kennedy: In the national health service, the nomenclature 'nurse adviser' covers a range of nursing roles and titles, including nurse specialists. What such nurses have in common is that they are employed to address specific issues identified by their employers. There is no national definition or job description of the role, therefore no regulations governing them. The Nursing and Midwifery Council are responsible for the professional regulation of nurses.

Nurses

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) neonatal and (b) paediatric nurses there have been in England in each year since 1997; how many are nearing retirement; and what steps are being taken to tackle possible shortages.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 8 February 2006
	The table shows qualified paediatric nurses and maternity services nurses in England as at 30 September 2004. We cannot specify neo-natal nursing staff, however we have included maternity services nursing staff for your information.
	
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Paediatric Nursing 15,341 16,266 16,689 16,922 17,640 18,014 18,437 18,917 
			 Maternity Services Nurses 28,409 29,174 29,258 29,304 29,177 29,524 30,776 32,056 
			 of which: 
			 Midwives 22,385 22,841 22,799 22,572 23,075 23,249 23,941 24,844 
		
	
	There are 2,216 paediatric nurses over the age of 50 and 6,162 maternity services nurses over the age of 50. However, human resource policies are in place to make it an attractive option for staff to work full time or part time up to and past retirement age, including: flexible national health service pensions scheme, flexible working hours and change of roles to include mentoring, coaching and clinical research.
	We have increased substantially the number of nurse training places, held national and international recruitment campaigns and developed return to practice schemes. We have also improved retention by increasing pay and continuing to make the NHS a better employer.

Parliamentary Questions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will answer question 31790 tabled by the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South on 24 November 2005.

Rosie Winterton: A reply was given on 6 February 2006, Official Report, column 970W.

Prescription Charges

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether her Department has issued guidance to trusts on advising patients on whether to obtain their prescriptions outside hospital pharmacies.

Jane Kennedy: The Department has not issued specific guidance to trusts on patients obtaining prescriptions outside hospital pharmacies. However, guidance has been issued on the responsibility for prescribing between hospitals and general practitioners (GPs), in the form of an Executive Letter in 1991, EL (91)127. This advised that hospital consultants have responsibility for all medicines prescribed for in-patients, as well as for ensuring that patients are discharged with sufficient medication to allow their GP, to whose care they are transferred, to be advised of the diagnosis and therapy so that continuity of care can be maintained.
	For out-patients the guidance says that only patients in immediate need of treatment should be prescribed medication as a result of the out-patient consultation. All other patients should be referred to their GP, with the results and recommendations from the consultation, to receive appropriate treatment.
	A copy of EL (91)127 will be placed in the Library.

Private Finance Initiative Scheme

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made in signing the contract for the private finance initiative scheme at Broomfield hospital, Chelmsford; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 31 January 2006
	The full business case (FBC) for this scheme has been prepared and submitted to Essex strategic health authority (SHA) for approval. Following publication of' The NHS in England: the operating framework for 200607 on 26 January, the SHA will now need to revalidate the approval parameters for the scheme by responding to a range of questions from the Department concerning factors such as long-term affordability, assumptions on efficiency gains and income growth, liquidity, activity shift and reference cost. The SHA will then need to have its conclusions ratified by the Department before proceeding.

Private Healthcare Sector (NHS Funded Operations)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS-funded operations have been commissioned from the private healthcare sector for patients in (a) Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth primary care trust and (b) Staffordshire strategic health authority in each of the last five-years, broken down by specialty.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not available in the format requested. However, during 200405, 530 procedures were commissioned in the Shropshire and Staffordshire strategic health authority from a one-year national procurement for additional general surgery and orthopaedic procedures.

Rule of Rescue Principle

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the acceptable incremental level of cost per quality years of life above the norm which the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence considers a drug treatment value for money when administered under the rule of rescue; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: I have made no such estimate.

Smoking

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people her Department estimates died from smoking-related illnesses in the last year for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: The smoking epidemic in England, published by the Health Development Agency in November 2004, estimated that, in England, 86,500 deaths a year were attributed to smoking.
	A copy is available in the Library.

Smoking

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research into the effects of second-hand smoke from tobacco products her Department has (a) evaluated and (b) commissioned.

Caroline Flint: The Governments 1998 White Paper Smoking Kills sets out in Chapter 1 some of the major fatal diseases and conditions caused by smoking and passive smoking. For each disease and cause of death quoted there is a reference to relevant studies and/or source documents.
	The 1998 Report of the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health (SCOTH) provided fuller information on fatal and other disease caused by smoking and second hand smoke. The 2004 Report by SCOTH, Secondhand Smoke: Review of Evidence since 1998, states that new evidence reinforces and strengthens the conclusion in the 1998 report that second hand smoke is a substantial public health hazard.
	Copies of these documents are available in the Library.

Staff Contracts

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the relevant staff group has not yet agreed a contract of employment under (a) the new consultants' contract, (b) the new General Medical Services contract and (c) Agenda for Change.

Liam Byrne: There are around 86 per cent. of all consultants now working to the new contract. The new contract is still available to all and new appointees, after October 2003, are automatically made to the new contract. Therefore, this percentage will continue to increase.
	The new general medical services (GMS) contract is not a contract of employment but a contract for primary medical care services based on a collective provider model of responsibility. General practitioners traditionally fill the role of contractors for provision, however, increasingly non-general practitioners are taking up such roles. Around 60 per cent. of all practitioners operate under GMS contract.
	There are about 5 per cent. of staff who have not been assimilated and therefore are not yet in receipt of agenda for change payment. We cannot ascertain, however, how many of these have not yet agreed a contract of appointment. This figure excludes national health service foundation trusts and special health authorities.

Statutory Instruments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the statutory instruments introduced by her Department since 6 May 2005.

Liam Byrne: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Tuberculosis

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has evaluated on the relative (a) clinical and (b) cost-effectiveness of (i) the Heaf skin test, (ii) the Mantoux skin test and (iii) interferon-gamma blood test for the identification of (A) latent and (B) active TB infection.

Jane Kennedy: The sole supplier of United Kingdom licensed purified protein derivative (PPD) has ceased production of tuberculin PPD for heaf testing. Mantoux testing has now replaced the heaf test as the standard method of tuberculin skin testing.
	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) extensively reviewed this area as part of the development of new guidelines on the clinical management of tuberculosis, including interferon gamma blood test for the identification of latent and active tuberculosis infection. This work has been published in draft form as part of an open public consultation. NICE clinical guidelines on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of tuberculosis are due out in March.

Waiting Lists/Times

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which hospital trusts have indicated to her that they will not be able to meet the six-month maximum waiting time for in-patient treatment during 2006;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the changes in waiting times for operations since the Government stated that no patient would have to wait more than six months for an NHS in-patient operation.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 7 February 2006
	No trusts have indicated they will not be able to meet the maximum wait standard.
	The six month standard came into place as at 31 December 2005. The first statistics measuring performance against this target show that 48 patients were waiting longer than six months for inpatient admission at the end of December 2005. Detailed figures by trust are available on the Department's website at: www.performance.doh.gov.uk/waitingtimes/2005/q3/qf01_y00.html.

Waiting Lists/Times

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for an NHS in-patient operation in (a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003, (d) 2004 and (e) 2005 in (i) England and (ii) each NHS hospital trust; and what the figures are to date in 2006.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 13 February 2006
	Data on average waiting times for the number of patients waiting for in-patient admission as at 31 December in each year has been placed in the Library.

Wynne Lieberthal

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether Wynne Lieberthal has been employed as a doctor within the NHS; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 8 February 2006
	Information about individual doctors working in the national health service is not held centrally.